Secret Room

Oh, it's that dream where you find a secret room in a house you've lived in for years. The entrance is usually off to the side of something else that distracts the eye, or just behind a corner you rarely notice. Maybe it takes something a little more special to find it, like a magic spell or a tricky maneuver to get inside. Maybe you found it by accident. It's possible that you were running from something dangerous when you noticed the wood paneling next to the freezer chest in the garage could be a door.

The secret room is never empty; it's full of dusty furniture and keepsakes. Sometimes it's your misplaced stuff, stored by an unknown, but most of the time it all belongs to a previous owner. There could be a suit of armor or a table full of old coins. There's an ancient TV set that looks like it might still work. You try your best to sort and appreciate everything and take in how neat this is that you've found this place. But you also need to be quiet.

Sometimes the room is larger than would appear to be possible and seems to be its own secret house. The room opens up and you turn a few corners, noticing other doors that presumably lead to other secret places. You imagine the days and nights you'll spend cataloging your new space, a mental map already branching out in your mind. You've already decided to keep this place a secret from your family and friends. It will be your special place to hide and be alone, should you ever need it as much as you do right now.

You look around one last time before you wake up. There is an extreme relief that you've finally found the secret room, like finding a forgotten part of you.