Couldn’t Find the Conference Room in the Hallway

Couldn’t Find the Conference Room in the Hallway

I was in my office building after hours, trying to find the conference room for a meeting I was already late to. The hallway kept going past the usual bathrooms, same carpet, same posters, but I couldn’t find the door. My phone had no signal. I heard someone walking behind me, not quite catching up. When I turned, it was my old neighbor from the apartment I left years ago, except he was wearing my coworker Dan’s badge. He asked if I’d seen the file, like I was supposed to know which one. I said I didn’t have keys to the cabinets. He smiled like that was the wrong answer. I tried the stairwell and it opened onto the grocery store near my house, lights half off. I was still looking for the room when I woke up, heart going, like I’d missed something obvious.