Forest of Dreams (Part 1) - Fiction Story

It was another jaded evening for Ashlyn at the run-down coffee shop off of 7th and Oak st, serving the usual grumpy stuck-up customers, who stick to their usual boring brews with seemingly no creative bones in their body to try something different. About 10 minutes before the end of her shift, as Ashlyn wipes down the drips of cappuccino from the the last table, whilst hypnotized by the monotony of her life, her boss Mr. Barry the typical jerk of a supervisor comes out from the kitchen and yells "Ashlyn! you missed a spot! If I have to tell you..", just before Mr. Barry could finish his sentence, a man comes walking into the shop appearing to be about seven feet tall, dressed in a black robe adorned with violet linens, even his mask which wrapped around his face from right under his eyes down to his neck, only revealing the dark features of the top half of his face.

As he gracefully walked over to a table to sit, he looks over at Mr. Barry who is still awestruck by the abnormality of the situation, and with a calm and yet eloquent voice, utters "May I please have a cup of green tea". Mr. Barry in an anxious and slightly trembling voice answers "Yes of course", "Ashlyn please get this fine gentleman a nice hot cup of green tea".
Ashlyn replies "Yes, absolutely, just a moment", as she swiftly carries over the steaming hot cup of fresh brewed tea over to the man, he thanks her and says "please have a seat". In confusion and caution Ashlyn replies "Umm alright, is there a problem?", "There are truly no problems, only those that you are willing to give power to. Ashlyn I am here today just for you. I have known you for quite some time. Have you ever heard of the stories of the Forest of Dreams as a child?".

Ashlyn replies "I have actually... My mother used to tell me a story about a mythical forest where all dreams live, and she said it was a place that could never be found, she also told me it was the happiest and most fearful place at the same time...". The man replies "She is right about all of that, except one part of that story is incorrect." Ashlyn replies "What do you mean?", the man softly utters "The Forest of Dreams is real, and there are those who have already found it long ago". The man pulls out a small seemingly ancient piece of parchment and unfolds it before Ashlyn, this is for you he said.

Part 2 coming soon!