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The DreamerWho Woke Up
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Adam Abbas
One day, I was born. Like all of the other newborns, I passed through the test. My results were favourable. “Your future will be a bright one, child,” said my parents, one of the only matters they spoke to me about. I was raised and educated through the system, the test already casting in concrete what and who I will be. My entire life was predicted through that one test, from birth to my planned death. I didn’t enjoy what I was destined to do or be. I didn’t like this system. Weirdly, no one ever tried to rebel. The government must not fear such an occurrence: its consequences were never specified. They didn’t only control the physical lives of people, but at a certain point had a hold on their minds too.
It worked on me for a long time, and the idea never sprung up to me, without surprise. It took me until I started working the “dream job”, as they said. I was so young and full of potential, as they said. It didn’t matter what they said. I thought, “I hate this. Why waste my consciousness being a robot slaving away in a society I will never benefit from.” I tried discussing this, but I was always met with the same answer: “You should be thankful.” I didn’t believe them and I feared they might get the government involved. I wanted to be free, and bring as many people as I could with me: I couldn’t waste any more time. Luckily, the government allowed us a discussion hub. I had a very high social ranking and many would hopefully see what I would write. I did fear censorship and repercussions, but all it took was one individual to see my message. I awaited the worst. I went to sleep, not knowing what fate I would wake up to.
The one I was dealt was tame. I had received a single reply endorsed by many as if a sole hive mind was speaking. The eerie loneliness of the response didn’t even cross my mind as by itself it was enough. I read it many times. It was as if being a child tutored on a simple subject. I felt idiotic, but I understood. I intuited that I integrated the hive mind, but voluntarily. The next day, I didn’t think about the matter anymore and headed to work. I thought the government hid the true reality I could one day attain, but in the end, it only abides by it, and everyone already knew.