What? Can’t you see I’m trying to study? I've got my exams next week and if I fail these, I'll never become a doctor! Can’t this wait?

No. I need to speak to you right now. It can’t wait. I can’t wait.

Okay. I'll give you ten minutes, and that’s all. I need a break, anyway. Where did I put my cigarettes?

Thank you. I want to ask you something.

It’s not about that girl who works in the supermarket again, is it?

No, it’s not. It’s something more important.

More important than little ‘Miss Lovely Face’ from the frozen food department? This is serious!

I've been having these dreams. In them, I've seen almost everybody I know; including you. Every time I touch someone, something happens to them. They die. I don’t like these dreams, so you have to help me. Please.

Look, it’s only a dream. Dreams don’t happen in real life. You have to learn to cope with them. Anyway, just for your own peace of find, bad dreams are supposed to bring you good luck. So stop worrying. Have you taken my cigarettes again?

No, I haven’t. I've got my own. Please hear me out. Do you remember Mrs. White, from upstairs? She was such a nice lady, always checking up on us and making sure we had enough to eat. I dreamt of her first. I dreamt that she was falling from a cliff and I was at the bottom of the cliff and I saw her fall. I could have caught her but I didn't. When she landed, she was still alive and I turned her over. When she saw my face, she screamed. I'll never forget that scream. It sounded like she was staring death in the face. The next morning, she died. They say she died in her sleep; but I know what happened to her. I touched her.

I think you’re taking this a bit too far. There’s no way you could be responsible for her death. Like they say, she died in her sleep. Simple as that.

Then let me tell you about Mr. Fuller. You know him, don’t you? Well, I dreamt of him next. I saw him in a field and he was working real hard, you know, like there was no tomorrow. There wasn't for him, was there? Anyway, I saw him there, planting or something and he was bent over double facing towards the ground. He suddenly straightens up and puts his right hand on his left arm, really holding it like he was in some pain. Then he falls to the ground and starts rolling around. I got scared just looking at him. So I go to him and try to help him. As soon as I touch him, he closes his eyes and he’s dead. The next day, he’s found in his bathroom, lying on the floor. His daughter found him, you know. She always goes to him every morning to make sure he’s okay. And he’s lying on the cold tiles in the bathroom, dead. I’m scared, man. You have to help me. Before I dream of touching you, too.

Have you told anyone else about this? I mean, if it bothers you this much, then I think that you should see someone.

No. They will think I’m mad or something. You’re studying to be a doctor. Can’t you help me?

I’m studying to be a biological doctor; not a psychiatrist. But I think I know someone who may be able to help you. She’s been practicing for many years and she is an expert on dreams. I could maybe speak to her, arrange an appointment, if you want.

No. I don’t want to see a shrink. I want personal help. I don’t want to be a patient. Please! I’m really scared.

Okay, I'll see what I can do. Start at the beginning. Tell me exactly when this started and tell me everything.

Okay. Mrs. White was first and Mr. Fuller was second. There have been two more since. And they get worse every time. I dreamt of a young girl two weeks ago. She must have been six or seven years old. I saw her coming out of a sweet shop and run across the road. A large truck was coming along and it hit her. It was horrible. There was nothing left of her except for a mangled head and broken limbs. Her body was squashed and there was blood everywhere.

The truck driver screeched the brakes and came running out to her. I stood there and I noticed that I was the only other person around. I though that there would have been a crowd, you know? I could not go near her, I was so shocked and scared. The driver kneels down to her and looks. From where I stood, I couldn't see or hear what he was doing. He starts making these gurgling noises and then he falls away and the girl is trying to stand up. She’s got her back to me and she doesn't see me. She goes back into the sweet shop. I know that she would be in there for a long time, so I try to help the truck driver. When I reach him, his eyes are staring up at me. I think he’s dead, but he starts to speak. Man, I've never been so frightened before in my whole life.

‘It’s you’ he says. That’s all he says. I reached down and put my hand on his chest, trying to feel the heartbeat or something. But there’s nothing there, man, nothing. Like, you know, he’s dead and he’s speaking to me! This is really freaking me out.

The next day, I hear there’s been an accident. Some girl got run over by a truck! The girl is badly hurt, but still alive. The driver had a heart attack when he realised what had happened.

Give me one of those cigarettes, please. Thanks.

That night, I dreamt of the little girl again. She was in hospital. I dreamt that I was in the same hospital. I dreamt that I was actually in the same ward as her. I remember thinking that I shouldn't be there, you know? I’m a grown man and I was in the children’s ward. It was night and everyone was asleep. I hear a small voice crying for help. So I go and find out what’s happening, you know? I don’t know why, but I went first to the little girl’s bed, but she’s not there. That’s when I started to think, you know, that maybe she is hurting someone. So I try to find her and then I see her in the play area. She’s bending down, like, er, a nurse or something. God, this sounds really crazy, man, but she’s wearing a uniform. She must have found it in one of the cupboards or something, because it’s too big for her. So I go nearer, really quiet, right, and peek over the window.

That’s the only time I ever woke up in the middle of one of the dreams.

What did you see?

The nurse.

What about the nurse? Do you want to tell me about it?

Yes! But I’m scared, man. You’re gonna think I’m nuts or something. The nurse is lying on the floor. She has a scalpel sticking out of her stomach and the little girl is looking at her with this big smile on her face. She’s loving it!

That’s when I woke up.

Has this actually happened?

Sort of. That was the night when that nurse was beaten up in the ward. Do you remember that?

Yeah, that’s right. Someone broke into the hospital and attacked a nurse. Sure, I remember. She never died though, did she?

I never touched her.

So what are you saying? She survived because you woke up? Is that it?

That’s exactly what I’m saying. I knew you wouldn't believe me. And you won’t believe my next dream. When I fell asleep on the couch after dinner today.

Try me. It can’t be any more incredible than what you have already said.

I dreamt that you and I were in the kitchen and I was cooking. You asked me what I was doing and I said chips. You asked for some and I said okay. And all this time I was watching, like I was someone else.

That’s not so strange. People get that mixed up with out of body experiences. It’s even been accounted for déjà vu. What happened next?

A fire started and the chip pan blew up in my face. I fell backwards and the other me tried to help. You had gone back to the living room. I turned my dream-self over and I saw myself; man, I saw the fear in my face and I screamed.

Is that when you woke up? When you realised that all of this is just a trick of the mind? I mean, your face looks as it’s always done.

No.

So when did you wake up? When was it, exactly, that you came to your senses and finally woke up from this nightmare of yours?

I didn't. I found myself lying on the couch.

Asleep?

No.

Well what then? How can you expect anyone to help you if you can’t explain what’s wrong? What can I … What’s happening to you, man? You’re beginning to fade!

I touched myself in my dream. I tried to stop the pain. I tried to help. I even tried calling to you, but you wouldn't come.

I touched myself in my dream, and I died.

My God! What has happened to you? JOHN! Where are you?