You encounter a nightmare.

That Thursday night you go to Ms. Norah’s dream again, but find yourself in a nightmare. A completely livid Vivian is yelling at a cowering Ms. Norah in a dark, black space.

“HOW COULD YOU STEAL HIM FROM ME!?”

“HE’S THE ONLY GOOD THING TO HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO ME!”

“HOW COULD YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM!?”

“I HATE YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE AND NEVER SHOW YOUR FACE AGAIN!”

You can feel how the atmosphere threatens to crush you with its pressure. Not only is it extremely upsetting to see Vivian so furious and yelling at her mother, but the terror, fear and anguish Ms. Norah is feeling is affecting you, too.

Thankfully, you’re not the same as before. You’re now able to change this. It’s more difficult than usual, since negative feeling seem to be stronger.

First, you lower Vivian’s voice volume. It now doesn’t echo into the void, so it’s less threatening. Next, you calm this Vivian down. You hug her from behind, remembering the Vivian you know.

“John?” She says. “What’s going on?” Maybe it’s because of how tightly you’re holding her, but she asks with concern in her voice.

It happened again, but this time you notice. You brought the real Dream-Vivian into Ms. Norah dream by accident. This is bad. You can’t just make these kinds of mistakes. Still, you might be able to work with this. However… there’s a very high chance things will get awkward. You know it’s worth the risk, though.

You make the atmosphere comforting. You feel the pressure leave your shoulders and your chest relax. Vivian’s and Ms. Norah’s breathing relaxes as well.

“Vivian, I need you to answer honestly.” You say in a low voice, but loud enough for both women to hear. “Do you love your mother?”

“Where did that come from?” She asks, but still answers. “I… I do. Now that I know how she was suffering… I can’t bring myself to hate her. I love my mom.” She admits. You’re sure the calming and comforting atmosphere played its part.

“Norah,” You say, calling her only by her name. “Do you love your daughter?”

“Of course…!” She answers quickly and without hesitation, but still a bit distressed from the previous encounter. “She’s everything to me! I don’t want to lose her, but… I’m afraid.”

“Afraid? Of what?” Vivian asks, taking a hand to her chest.

“Afraid that… my feelings for John will pulls apart.” She cries, turning her face away from her daughter.

“Feelings…?” Vivian’s eyes widen. “Mom, do you…?”

“I can’t help it. I want to get rid of these feelings, but…!” Norah drops to her knees and the atmosphere becomes heavy again. You can feel the pressure in your chest returning.

Vivian suddenly leaves your embrace and moves to hold her mother, crouching in front of her.

“Mom…” You her Vivian swallowing hard. “Are you lonely?”

Slowly, Ms. Norah nods, avoiding eye contact with her daughter.

Vivian hugs her mother even tighter, and the tender moment almost makes you regret what you’re about to do.

Almost.

As you walk towards the pair, you focus on making the atmosphere hot and lustful on top of the comfort.

You kneel between the two women and they both turn to look. You give Vivian a tender kiss on the lips before glancing at Ms. Norah and then back to your girlfriend.

“May I?” You ask.

Vivian’s conflicted expression tells you she understood your question.