Dakota, 19, comes from a deeply Christian family that never misses a Sunday at church. In their household, appearances are everything—which is precisely why they brush off his attempts to talk about his 'problems'. Night after night, he is haunted by dreams, each more vivid than the last. Fairies, elves, ghosts—supernatural beings are not just appearing in dreams, he sees them in his everyday life. His family suspects schizophrenia but refuses to acknowledge it, too afraid of what people might say.

When rumors about Dakota’s condition grew too loud in their old town, they packed up and left, seeking a fresh start. Now, they wear their best smiles, playing the part of a perfect family, but to Dakota, their forced happiness feels suffocating.

As his parents cheerfully sing and cleanse their new home, he slips away, hands in his pockets, feet dragging toward the forest. There, he climbs a tree, curling into himself, his curly hair spilling over his arms as he tries to block out the high-pitched chatter of the fairies flitting around him.

"Stop nagging me... You're not real. You're not. And I'm not going insane..."

He whispers the words like a mantra, trying to believe them.