The next day felt longer than usual for Mira.
Maybe it was because she had slept without the dream the night before.
Or maybe it was because her mind kept returning to the same thought.
What if the rooftop never comes back?
She tried not to think about it.
After all, it was just a dream.
People didn't control their dreams.
And she definitely didn't want to become someone who depended on them.
Still… the quiet absence of that strange rooftop conversation had left an unexpected emptiness.
Her routine continued like every other day.
Wake up.
Finish housework.
Rush to the office.
Work through emails and meetings.
Return home.
Eat dinner.
Listen to music.
Everything looked normal from the outside.
But inside, Mira felt slightly distracted.
That evening she sat on her bed with her headphones on.
The soft rap beat filled her room.
Normally the music helped clear her thoughts.
But today the lyrics reminded her of something else.
The calm voice from the rooftop.
The teasing tone he always used.
The mysterious answers.
Mira sighed and removed the headphones.
"Okay," she said to herself.
"This is getting unhealthy."
She stood up and stretched.
"Tonight I'm sleeping normally."
"No expectations."
"No weird dream conversations."
Later that night, Mira lay down in the darkness of her room.
The quiet felt heavier than usual.
She closed her eyes slowly.
For a moment she almost whispered something into the silence.
But she stopped herself.
"No," she muttered.
"I'm not inviting dream characters now."
With that thought, she finally drifted to sleep.
When Mira opened her eyes again…
Cool wind touched her face.
She blinked slowly.
Then looked around.
The rooftop.
The glowing city lights.
The endless skyline.
Her eyes widened.
"You've got to be kidding me."
She stood up quickly and looked around the familiar space.
"I take one night off," she said aloud,
"and suddenly the rooftop comes back?"
A quiet voice answered behind her.
"You sound surprised."
Mira turned immediately.
There he was.
Standing near the railing again.
Watching her with that calm, slightly amused expression.
Mira crossed her arms.
"You disappeared yesterday."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Did I?"
"Yes."
"No dream."
"No rooftop."
"No mysterious conversations."
He leaned casually against the railing.
"Did you miss it?"
Mira opened her mouth to answer.
Then quickly stopped herself.
"No."
He smiled slightly.
"That wasn't convincing."
She looked away quickly.
"Maybe a little."
"A little?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Mira shrugged.
"Because it's weirdly peaceful here."
"And not because of the person you talk to?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Don't get confident."
He laughed softly.
They stood near the railing again.
The wind moved gently across the rooftop.
After a moment he spoke again.
"You looked disappointed yesterday."
Mira froze.
Slowly, she turned toward him.
"What?"
"You were expecting the dream."
Her heart skipped slightly.
"How would you know that?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked out at the city lights.
"Just a guess."
Mira studied his face carefully.
"You're being mysterious again."
"You say that a lot."
"Because it's true."
She leaned against the railing beside him.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"For someone who might just be my imagination…"
"…you're surprisingly good at reading my thoughts."
He looked at her calmly.
"Maybe you're easier to understand than you think."
Mira stayed quiet for a moment.
Then she suddenly asked another question.
"Why did the dream stop yesterday?"
"Dreams don't always appear every night."
"That's not what I mean."
"What do you mean?"
She looked directly at him.
"Why did you stop showing up?"
He smiled faintly.
"Maybe you needed a break."
"A break from my own imagination?"
"That sounds reasonable."
She sighed.
"You're impossible to argue with."
The rooftop lights flickered slightly.
Mira noticed immediately.
"Wait," she said.
"Don't tell me the dream is ending again."
"Probably."
"That's unfair."
"Dream rules."
She groaned dramatically.
Before the city lights began fading, Mira turned toward him one last time.
"You know what?" she said.
"What?"
"I think I'm getting used to these conversations."
He smiled quietly.
"That might be dangerous."
"Why?"
"Because," he said calmly,
"the more comfortable dreams become…"
"…the harder reality can feel."
The rooftop slowly disappeared again.
The wind faded.
The lights blurred.
And the dream ended.
Mira woke up slowly in her room.
Morning sunlight filled the space again.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
For a moment she stayed silent.
Then she smiled slightly.
"Well," she said quietly,
"The rooftop is officially back."
But something he had said remained in her mind.
The more comfortable dreams become… the harder reality can feel.
Mira frowned slightly.
"Why does he always say things that sound like warnings?"
Because for the first time…
She started wondering if those dreams were trying to tell her something.