His hand is warm on my thigh. I smell his musky cologne as I rest my head on his shoulder. He looks down at me and smiles, then gently plants a kiss on the top of my head. This is perfect.

Reality is less so.

I wake up to the sound of my sister, screaming because the dog chewed up her school project. When she calms down I'll show her the irony of her situation.

Outside my window the yard crew is mowing, the machines growling and groaning as they are pushed by my window. The sound jars my sleepy brain into a confused awakened state.

I roll over and check my alarm clock, then hurriedly sit up. I'm late once again. As I hurriedly get dressed, I can't help but wish that reality was more like my dreams.