I'm a monster. 

It's the cold, hard truth. Humans, you see, say they will accept you no matter what. That it's what's on the inside that counts. But let me tell you, once they see me, they start running for their lives.

I've traveled in human dreams before. It's very interesting to watch what their brain comes up with. However, I always stay hidden. 

At first, it was because I was shy. But one day, I wanted to meet a human. No, I longed to meet a human.

There was this nice girl who always had the sweetest dreams.

She had the most beautiful, long, flowing hair. She had such gorgeous emerald eyes. I simply wanted to compliment her.

I traveled into her dream. She saw me and shrieked. 

Immediately, her sweet dream turned into a nightmare.

I thought that she was just a scared, shy person. There was no shame in that. I'll try someone braver.

This next person was very brave. They had a bunch of scars from school fights. Their dreams were very action-packed. They would fight off these evil villains and win every time. Surely, they wouldn't be scared of me. 

I traveled into their dream. They saw me and shrieked. 

It was another dream that turned into a nightmare.

I tried time and time again. Different people every time. Different genders, races, backgrounds, and stories. Yet, the result was always the same. 

I had turned their dream into a living nightmare. 

After a while, I just gave up. I didn't even stay hidden. I didn't travel into dreams at all. 

I lost myself in the darkness I call home. I was alone with my thoughts. The silence crowded my ears. I had no concept of how much time passed.

I stayed in the empty void, lingering. I so desperately wanted someone to come save me from this torture. I wanted to feel, see, and hear humans again. 

I didn't know what to do with myself. I knew there was a time before I started traveling. But for the love of myself, I had no idea what I did to cure the loneliness. It was so long ago I had completely forgotten.

Eventually, it got so bad, that I started going insane. Even I recognized it. 

I wanted to travel again. I had to travel again.

One by one by one. Day by day by day. I started traveling again and more often. The joy it brought me to see humans living their best lives was something I had forgotten. Now, it's come back even more amazing. 

But soon, the itch for human interaction returned. I knew what would happen. Yet, that itch didn't go away. No matter how hard I tried.

That's when I met you. Your dreams were something else. It brought me a joy no other dream did. 

Your dreams made me laugh, cry, cheer, and everything else. Your dreams were inspiring, adventurous, fulfilling, imaginative, and serene. It was your dreams that made me the happiest.

Soon, it was only you. That desire to have human interaction was now a desire to interact with you. 

I don't know what I was doing. I knew what the consequence would be. But for some reason, I still did it. And Miguel, I don't regret it. 

You had found gold buried under the rubble. It shined brightly. Not brighter than you, but still bright. You stared at it in awe. You were so mesmerized, that you didn't see me behind you, at first. 

But when you turned around, I wanted to cry. You did not shriek. Your dream didn't become a nightmare. You simply told me what a beautiful, gold stone you were holding. And I agreed. 

You stayed with me. You treated me as if I was your own kind.  You considered me a friend. 

The dark, murky gray of the clouds turned into a bright white. The sun shone through the clouds. 

We spent the whole of your dream talking and laughing with each other. But then, you had to wake up. 

I enjoyed the moment, and I thought it would be the last.

I came back the next time you slept. Your soft, brown hair swished in the wind. 

You turned around to face me, taking me by surprise. You held out a pretty, pink flower. I took it into my claws, but it shriveled up immediately. You still kept your bright smile. 

You said that it was still a pretty flower just like me. 

I wanted to hug you but feared you would be crushed. I rested my claw next to you. 

You hugged me. You hugged me tightly. 

Miguel, my dear. 

Please, stay with me. Be that bright light in my life. Let me make you happy, just as you made me happy.