Racing Down the Endless Hallway to a Subway‑Coffee Shop

Racing Down the Endless Hallway to a Subway‑Coffee Shop

I was late for work again, sprinting down the hallway of my apartment building, but the hallway kept stretching. I finally burst out the front door and the street was the same downtown I know, except the coffee shop on the corner was also the subway station I use. I tried to order a latte, but the barista handed me a train ticket and asked if I wanted a seat. I fumbled for my phone to check the time, but the screen showed a map of my old high school hallway, and every classroom was labeled with different train lines. I ran to the platform, but the platform was the hallway of my office, and my boss was standing there in a commuter uniform, looking annoyed that I missed the meeting. I tried to explain, but my voice sounded like my sister’s, and she just smiled and said, "We'll catch the next one." I woke up just as the train doors closed, heart pounding, and realized I was still in my pajamas.