The Dreams were cruel. Joe had known that from the beginning. He'd even been warned that his life was going to become "unusual" and "interesting". However, it wasn't until he'd experienced it for himself that he really understood what that meant. It was one of those things that you could warn others about, but something that no one would understand until they experienced it themselves.
"I know," Joe agreed quietly. He shifted his position and put a comforting arm around Gwen. "I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do to change that for you."
He was quiet for a few moments, with Gwen's head against his shoulder. He rubbed her back gently. "When I first moved here," he started slowly, softly, "I met a woman and she told me something that I didn't remember until recently. She said something like...this life, the one that we see in the Dreams is ours to make of however I wanted. And I think..." he paused a moment trying to collect his thoughts, "the same is true for the lives we lead here."