Mental Corruption

As I wander through this world, I sometimes meet people who are aware of the dream world. A rare few remember our encounters completely, allowing us to keep connecting again and again. One day, while speaking with one of them as usual, I noticed the light suddenly fade from their eyes. That empty gaze was fixed on me. "Is she truly happy here?" Suddenly, he called out to me with a question. "Or is she merely a beautiful doll trapped in your perfect cage?" In that moment, my world shook. A wave of fear froze my heart. As if my anxiety were contagious, everyone around us began to warp, their hidden hatred and fear for each other rising to the surface. With my power, I erased the source of that corruption, leaving not a single trace behind. Like an illusion, the chaos vanished, and the world slipped back into its false tranquility. But I saw it. In the shadows, something unseen was mocking my deepest self. No. This utopia is mine. My wife... my family must be real. I cannot lose them again. I will make sure this never happens again. No cracks, no doubts. Never again, will I allow it.