Familiar Dreams

Summary

A woman experiences a déjà vu moment while walking down an alleyway, recognizing it from a dream, and is compelled to investigate an open door from which she hears her cat, Whiskers, meowing.

Abstract

The narrative unfolds with a woman navigating an alleyway, a setting she eerily recalls from a dream the previous night. The familiarity is disrupted by an open door at the alley's end, a detail absent from her dream. The source of the distressing "meow" is her own cat, Whiskers, prompting her to act. The story ends on a cliffhanger, inviting readers to explore a continuation by Natasha Kurien, which delves into the melancholic and surprising events that follow the woman's entry into the shop. The piece serves as a writing prompt for the art of the cliffhanger, encouraging submissions to "The Brain is a Noodle" publication and highlighting the practice of cliffhangers by Lucy, known as The Eggcademic, in her personal interactions.

Opinions

The author values the impact of suspense and the use of cliffhangers in storytelling, as evidenced by the narrative structure and the direct invitation to readers to continue the story.
The piece suggests that dreams can have a profound and disorienting effect on waking life, blurring the lines between reality and the subconscious.
The inclusion of a personal anecdote about Lucy (The Eggcademic) implies that the art of the cliffhanger can be both a literary device and a quirk of everyday communication.
The author endorses the works of specific writers, indicating a belief in their ability to effectively engage with the cliffhanger challenge.
The presence of links to other poems and the call for submissions indicate a desire to foster a community of writers and readers who appreciate the craft of writing and the power of a well-told story.

A poem of déjà vu

She turned the alleyway, tense, uncertain.

She had been here just the night before, not in real life, but in her dreams.

She recognized everything but one thing was off.

The door at the end of the alleyway — it was open.

A distressed “meow” came from inside the shop — It was Whiskers, her best friend and only companion of 6 years!

She knew what she had to do. She stepped forward, testing the doorknob, and —

Edit, Oct 8, 2020: Check out this amazing continuation of the story by Natasha Kurien!!!

Writing Prompt: Practice the art of the cliffhanger. Write a piece of fiction, or maybe a poem that leaves the reader at the edge of their seat.

Don’t be shy to drop your submissions to The Brain is a Noodle! 🧠🍜

Lucy (The Eggcademic) is well known in her friend circle for texting in all caps the beginning of a juicy story and leaving mid-sentence on a cliffhanger. Not maliciously. Mostly because she gets distracted by another notification. She has yet to hone the craft of the cliffhanger in actual writing, so she’s diving right in with practice, practice, and more practice!

What’s your next adventure? 🐇🌌

🔁 a random poem: Ode to Eyebrows

💜 a poem that deserves more love: unrest (a poem about u)

🔊 a voice to amplify: Reward, a poem by James G Brennan

Familiar Dreams

A poem of déjà vu

She pushed the door open- only to be gripped by a feeling of melancholy.

What unfolded before her took her by surprise.