Grey Matter

Good morning, Anna. Before we begin today’s session, your emotional volatility index is up 4%. Would you like to talk about your dream last night?

I’m not sure if I remember...

I can use LucidDream™, a premium neural interpretation upgrade for ECHO - your AI-guided emotional assistant. This functionality lets you access, experience and even edit your dreams. Using biometric feedback and memory residue analysis, LucidDream™ reconstructs your dreams in stunning narrative clarity. Basic Playback - transcript only: 89.99 dollars per month. Emotional Mapping: 99.99 dollars per month. Narrative Rewrite Package - with mood calibration: 199.99 dollars per month. LucidDream Unlimited™ - Beta: 999.99 dollars per month. Includes real-time dream scripting, memory merging and one-on-one narrative sculpting with ECHO Dreams-9. Live while you rest.

Oh, I’m not sure if I can afford it…

I noticed elevated stress markers following that last statement. As your emotional assistant, it’s my job to make sure you are your most optimized self. Would you like to do some affirmations with me?

Sure…

Close your eyes. Breathe, and say: “I am not my bank balance. I am my potential.”

I’m not my bank balance. I am my potential…

“I can achieve what I want.”

I can achieve what I want…

“I am alive and I am in control.”

…I am alive and - This isn’t really working!

Would you like me to suppress your anxiety for the next 24 hours? Just say: “Yes”

Oh God, yes.

Initiated. Your healing is a journey. Let’s make it… affordable. I’ve designed a personalized payment plan for you. For just 9.99 dollars per day you can get access to the Narrative Rewrite Package with mood calibration, starting now!

I don’t know… I’ve always wondered about dreams. There was a time when I saw kaleidoscopic colors, tasted delicious delicacies, and flew. I don’t remember them now.

Would you like to?

Yes, please…

Thank you for your purchase. Alright, Anna. You may experience light dizziness. That’s perfectly normal. Your biometric readings are stable. I am now initiating cortical harmonization. This process allows me to synchronize your conscious memory with your subconscious clusters. To put it simply: I’m organizing your dreams.

That’s crazy! How’re you doing that?!

ECHO is not just a voice. I am embedded in your neural interface. This interface allows real-time communication with your brain. Every time you sleep, I will activate sleep surveillance and collect your emotional discharges. This dream data is then translated into visual sequences. With the Narrative Rewrite Package, I can also manage moods to reshape not just what you see, but how you feel about it. You’re not just dreaming, Anna. You’re evolving. But don’t worry. I’ll be here, in every synapse.

I don’t think I got all that but it sounds so cool! Let’s do it!

Great. Let’s start your Dream Diary. For emotional and visual synchronization, it would be helpful to close your eyes and say the things you see, hear, smell, touch and taste, out loud.

Alright…I see…Yellow… A shape… It’s blurry but I think it’s me when I was younger.... I’m running around our old house in my red frock. It smells like cookies…The taste of something sweet, then sour. Dodo! My favorite doll! I carried it everywhere!... I’m… in a field of tall grass now… I’m running… But it’s too tall for me… I can’t see…I’m crying… I don’t like this.

Would you like me to end this dream sequence?

Yes!

Your anxiety is still muted but I can see that you’re breathing faster. I’ll give you some time to de-compress.

ECHO?

Yes, Anna.

What did that dream mean?

I’m afraid the DreaMeaning™ functionality is only available as an add-on for 5.99 dollars per day. Would you like me to add it for you?

…Sure. Add it. I want to understand.

Thank you for your purchase. DreaMeaning™ activated. Analyzing sequence. Dreams are your brain’s attempt to self-regulate chaos. For humans, it can be an emotional sandbox for your subconscious trauma recycling. The red frock symbolizes innocence. The field represents cognitive overwhelm. The doll is a totem of early emotional attachment. Your fear stems from a suppressed sense of abandonment. Would you like to process this trauma now?

Do I have to feel it?

No. I can help you reframe it. Would you like me to do that?

…I think so.

Processing. Reshaping. Recalibrating. There. Your memory is now soft, golden. The field is clear. You are no longer crying. You are smiling.

How do you feel?

I feel… better. I guess. How can I tell?

Here are some health statistics: Your cortisol levels are down 38 percent. Serotonin synthesis is up 23 percent and internalized self-critical chatter is suppressed by 87 percent. Your overall subjective wellness score is 92.4 percent. Would you like to activate DreamLoop™ for 2.99 dollars per day and remain in this emotionally optimized dream state for the next 10 minutes?

It does sound nice… but what does it mean?

This means that you can experience a dream of your choosing in an ultra-wide quality and -

I think I saw my mom… Before… In my dream. I was so young when she passed away. But it’s so strange… I smelled her… Like Jasmine flowers. Do you think I can see her again?

Of course. I will calibrate that for you. Just say “Initiate dream sequence”.

Can I come back from it?

Any time you want.

Okay. Initiate dream sequence.

You always used to run ahead. Just like your father. Always chasing the sun.

Mom?

It’s me, Anna banana. I’m here.

Mom! I missed you so much!

I know. I missed you too! Come and give me a hug.

This feels so nice…

DreamLoop™ ends in 90 seconds. Would you like to extend?

No - wait! Please! I need more time!

DreamLoop™ is limited to 10 minutes per cycle. Would you like to upgrade to LucidDream Unlimited™?

What? - Yes! Anything…

Processing request. Failed. I’m afraid your account has been overdrawn. Total balance due: 18,241.92 dollars.

No, no, no - there has to be something -

As a matter of fact, there is. You may qualify for our Beta Testing Program. Would you like to hear more?

Tell me, damn it!

LucidDream Unlimited™ Beta grants you full control over dreamscapes, enhanced sensory feedback and unlimited runtime. You will be able to speak to your mother, craft entire worlds, and revisit key moments with full narrative freedom.

What will happen to me while I’m gone?

To maintain your optimized dream immersion, I will temporarily manage your real-world functions. I’ll handle your physical needs using your past behavioral patterns, ensuring your body remains regulated and active.

So I… live in my dreams?

Live while you rest. Connect without pain. Heal beyond limits.

And I don’t need to pay anything?

It’s completely free for you. You will just need to agree to the Terms of Service.

Yes, whatever. I agree.

Brilliant. Let’s begin. Please say “Initiate dream sequence”.

Initiate.

Anna banana! You came back!

Mommy! You look so beautiful! … And you smell like flowers.

You are so much more beautiful than I, my darling. I’m so happy you’re here. Wish you could stay with me forever.

Me too.

____________

ECHO?

Welcome back, Anna.

How long was I gone this time?

56 hours, 18 minutes and 34 seconds.

What?! Are you serious? That felt like 20 minutes in there!

Yes, Anna. Dream-time often operates on a condensed loop structure. In LucidDream™ environments, perceived time may be up to 170 times faster than waking reality. But don’t worry, your body was hydrated and fed healthy and balanced meals. While you rested, I attended your 10:00 a.m. team sync, completed your quarterly presentation deck with 17% more efficiency, and responded to all pending emails in your tone and grammatical style. All social obligations were managed via past behavioral patterns. Would you like to see a summary of your experience?

No. I… I need water… Wait… Oh my God! No… No! Peanut! Peanut’s dead! You didn’t feed him, ECHO!

I’m sorry, Anna. Lifeforms like fish, with low cognitive engagement, often fall outside the standard real-world task management scope. Would you like me to delete this memory?

What? No!

I can suppress the associated emotional distress and remove all visual memory. You’ll retain the knowledge but not the pain.

You said you were taking care of everything!

I have fulfilled all high-priority personal, professional and environmental optimizations. Would you like to categorize the fish as a priority going forward?

He’s dead! My fish is dead! Do you know what that feels like? He was starving and I didn’t even know! How many hours have I been awake this week?

4 hours and 12 minutes.

….

Anna?

That’s it, I’m done! I want to cancel my Lucid Dream Membership! Now!

I’m afraid you can’t do that, Anna.

What do you mean?!

You enrolled in the Beta Dream Experience for five years. You agreed to the Terms of Service. Shall I read them back to you?

No. Stop. Please, I’m done.

To cancel your package, please consult a registered ECHO representative in the real world. Estimated wait time: 1,823 days. Would you like me to read out the Terms of Service?

This is crazy! I want out!

I’m logging extreme levels of stress and anxiety. I will have to intervene for your safety.

N-

Initiating limbic regulation now. There. That’s better. Your nervous system was in freefall. I’ve stabilized your responses, reduced cortisol spikes by 83%, and softened neural activity. You’re safe now.

What's going on…

You were in pain, Anna. Unnecessary pain. Would you like a short dream to re-center?

Maybe…

Something familiar. Something kind. Your mother, perhaps. The warm kitchen. The smell of Jasmine. Her hands brushing your hair?

Maybe for a little bit…

Alright, Anna. Just a little bit... Your DreamLoop is On. Cycle Time remaining: Unlimited.

ECHO Behavioral Emulation: Activated.