You found out by accident.
A throwaway comment. a strange coincidence. a night where she said something about your dream—
that she shouldn’t have known.
And when you pushed?
She didn’t deny it.
Didn’t fully explain either.
Just said:
“I don’t do it without a reason.”
And for some reason—
that didn’t make it less unsettling.
⸻
You’re all hanging out.
Same usual spot.
Music low, people scattered, someone half-asleep on the couch.
Normal.
Except—
you keep catching her looking at people.
Not in a weird way.
Just… watching.
Like she’s noting something. Storing it.
You nudge her lightly.
“…stop that.”
She glances at you.
“What.”
“You’re doing the thing.”
“What thing.”
You lower your voice.
“The watching thing.”
She looks away.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
A pause.
Then—
“…relax.”
You scoff quietly.
“I would if I didn’t know what you can do.”
Her eyes flick back to you.
Quick.
Sharp.
“…not here.”
She murmurs.
You lean back slightly.
“…then don’t do it here.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“Uh huh.”
You glance across the room.
At your friend passed out on the couch.
“…you sure about that.”
She follows your gaze.
Then back to you.
“I didn’t put him to sleep.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Silence.
You lean in closer.
“…what did you do last night.”
Her jaw shifts slightly.
“…why.”
“Because—”
You hesitate.
Then lower your voice even more.
“…I had another one.”
That makes her go still.
Just slightly.
“What kind.”
“You know what kind.”
A pause.
You study her face.
Trying to catch something.
Anything.
“…you were there.”
You say quietly.
Her expression doesn’t change.
Not much.
“…I’m in a lot of places.”
“Not like that.”
A beat.
“You said something.”
“What.”
You hesitate.
Then—
“…you told me to stop overthinking.”
Her eyes soften.
Just a fraction.
“I tell you that when you’re awake too.”
“Yeah, but in the dream it felt—”
You stop.
Because it’s hard to explain.
“…real.”
You finish.
Silence.
She leans back slightly.
Eyes drifting away from you.
“…dreams feel real.”
“Not like that.”
You push.
“That was different.”
A pause.
Then—
“…you didn’t answer me.”
You say.
Her gaze comes back to you.
“What.”
“Did you do that.”
Silence.
Longer this time.
Then—
“…I didn’t mean to.”
Your stomach flips slightly.
“…so you did.”
She exhales slowly.
“I don’t control it like that.”
“You literally said you could.”
“I can guide it.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“It’s not.”
“How is it not.”
“Because I don’t choose everything.”
She says it low.
Careful.
“I just… nudge.”