Yellow Brick Apartment and Grocery Bags with Mark

Yellow Brick Apartment and Grocery Bags with Mark

I was walking home from the grocery store with two heavy paper bags, but the street was slightly off. My apartment building was there, but the brick was painted yellow instead of gray, and the coffee shop on the corner was an antique bookstore. I ran into Mark, my college ex, except in the dream we were apparently still together and had been married for five years. He took one of the grocery bags and kissed my cheek like it was completely routine, asking if I remembered to pick up the brand of oat milk he likes. I felt this intense, quiet wave of panic because I knew this wasn't my real life, but his face looked so tired and familiar that I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I just followed him up the front steps, dreading unlocking the door because I had no idea what our apartment was supposed to look like inside.