Maya Shows Up in the Grocery Store Aisle, Sparking Nostalgia

Maya Shows Up in the Grocery Store Aisle, Sparking Nostalgia

I woke up feeling weird, so I wrote down the dream before coffee. I was at the grocery store, pushing a cart down the same aisle I always walk past when I go home from work. I reached for the cereal, but the shelf was empty and a stranger—my ex‑college roommate, Maya—was standing there, holding a box of the same brand. She smiled, and I felt a sudden rush of nostalgia. We started chatting about the old dorm, and before I knew it we were in the checkout line together, laughing about a prank we pulled in sophomore year. Then the cashier called my name: "Mr. Patel, your order is ready." I turned to see my partner, Alex, standing at the other end of the line, holding a bag of fresh bread. Alex looked confused, as if wondering why I was with Maya. I tried to explain, but my words got stuck, and the store lights flickered. I could hear my heart pounding, and I felt a knot in my chest, like I was about to be caught doing something I hadn't even done.