Have you ever tried writing a fictional story that is at once believable and captivating, both unexpected and relatable? That’s damn near impossible for anyone but the literary greats. You and I, though, have a mutual friend who is embarrassingly good at this craft, someone we’ve known since childhood who can literally compose fictional masterpieces in their sleep.

You ask, who is this gifted, prolific storyteller with whom both of us go way back? The dream states of our minds.

I am, on occasion, so fascinated by the narrative quality of my dreams. There’s drama, conflict, romance, irony, comedy. Supporting roles played by people I hadn’t thought about in years.

Plot twists! Romantic revelations! My own brain is composing the damn story as it unfolds, and yet, even I am shocked to find out what happens next.