Endless hallway to the bakery with Maya and the impossible keys

Endless hallway to the bakery with Maya and the impossible keys

I woke up feeling like I’d just missed the 8 a.m. train. In the dream I was standing in the hallway of my old high school, but the lockers were all replaced with tiny kitchen cabinets. I was supposed to meet Maya, my ex‑girlfriend, for coffee at the corner bakery we used to go to after class. I realized I was still wearing the navy suit I wore to my last job interview, even though the bakery was supposed to be casual. I fumbled for my phone to text her that I’d be late, but the device turned into a set of keys that wouldn’t fit any lock. Maya appeared, looking exactly like she did in our senior year, but her hair was a shade lighter, like she’d just come from the gym. She smiled, but I could hear the echo of our old conversation about moving to the city. I tried to walk toward her, but the hallway stretched forever, each step making the floor feel like it was made of soft carpet. Finally, I woke up in my own bedroom, heart still racing, wondering if I’d ever actually call her again.