Higher Dimension.1
Chapter 1- Waking Up in a New Reality
The room was filled with a strange haze, a mixture of fragrant smoke and muted sunlight streaming through sheer curtains. The sheets beneath her were softer than anything she had ever felt before, a luxurious blend of fabric that hinted at a life far removed from her own. For a moment, she lay there in bewilderment, staring at the ceiling. Her mind struggled to piece together the fragments of consciousness that floated in and out of focus. The alarm had gone off at 6:00 AM, same as always. She had dragged herself out of bed, worn out from a night broken by her youngest waking with nightmares, about to trudge into the kitchen to start the day.
But this wasn’t her room. It wasn’t her bed either. The surroundings were all wrong.
She sat up suddenly, heart racing, her breath catching in her throat. This was not her home. The walls were painted a deep, calming shade of green, adorned with framed photos of lush plants and colorful glass pieces. A large poster hung over the bed, displaying her face in a glamorous close-up, the caption underneath reading, “Ava Green – The Queen of Cannabis.”
What the hell was going on?
She stumbled out of bed, her legs unsteady as if they belonged to someone else. The carpet was plush beneath her feet, and she reached for a glass of water on the nightstand, hoping the cool liquid would wake her up from this bizarre dream. But the water was real, refreshing and crisp, grounding her further in this strange reality. Ava cautiously walked toward the mirror at the far end of the room, where a collection of make-up and hair products was meticulously arranged on a vanity that screamed luxury and care—a sharp contrast to the half-empty bottles and mismatched items cluttering the bathroom back home. “Definitely NOT mine.” she thought.
The woman who looked back at her in the mirror was, indeed, herself, but different. Her hair was styled in a way that took time, patience, and professional hands. Her skin glowed, as if the last five years of sleepless nights, stress, and juggling four kids hadn’t left a mark on her. The bags under her eyes were gone, replaced by a youthful vitality she barely recognized.
She turned away from the mirror, pulse quickening, scanning the room for answers. There was a journal on the bedside table, embossed with a logo of a cannabis leaf. The words “Ava Green – Notes & Thoughts” were etched beneath it. She flipped it open with trembling hands and scanned the pages, which were filled with neat, cursive handwriting—her handwriting, yet she didn’t remember writing any of it.
Before she could make sense of the notes, a phone buzzed on the nightstand. She snatched it up, a sleek iPhone 15 much nicer than the beat-up Galaxy 10 with a cracked screen she had back home. The caller ID read “Rebecca - Manager.”
Manager? She didn’t have a manager.
With hesitation, Ava answered, “Hello?”
“There you are! Good morning, superstar!” the voice chirped. “Just wanted to remind you that you’re on air in two hours. Your team is ready, and the studio’s already set up. Today’s episode is going to be a blast. We’ve got Dr. Lowry in to discuss the latest in cannabis-based therapies for anxiety. You’re going to love it.”
Ava’s heart skipped a beat. “Uh, yeah…of course. I’ll be ready,” she stammered, unsure of what else to say. The voice on the other end continued with the usual cheer, oblivious to Ava’s inner turmoil.
“Fuck” she blurted abruptly after hanging up, she wandered the room, her fingers grazing over surfaces and objects that seemed both familiar and alien. She found a tablet, where a calendar app was open and filled with engagements and appearances. “The Ava Green Show,” it said. “Daily at 2 PM.” There were notes about interviews with industry leaders, celebrity guests, and plans for an upcoming cannabis expo.
It seemed that in this world, she was not just a talk show host but a high-profile cannabis personality. Her name was a brand.
Ava sank back down onto the bed, her head in her hands. This wasn’t just a dream or a momentary hallucination. She was fully awake and somehow living a life that was entirely different from the one she’d had only hours before—if time even worked the same way here. Her thoughts drifted to her husband, Chris, and the kids—Emily, Alex, Noah, and little Lily. Where were they now? And was there another version of her in the world she had left behind? Did she trade places with that other Ava?
The thought made her chest tighten with guilt. If that other Ava was now stuck in her old life, how would she possibly cope? The demands of being an overworked mom of four, the constant stress of financial struggles, and a husband who was always away, working three jobs to keep them afloat…she tried pinching herself. “Ouch!” she cried out.
Ava looked around the luxurious bedroom again, her guilt deepening. This version of her had the time and resources to take care of herself, to indulge in a world that was both fascinating and foreign to the Ava from her own life. What had happened? How could this possibly be real? She needed answers. But from who, is there anyone around she’d recognize from her real life?
Tentatively, she dressed in the clothes she found laid out for her—by whom was a mystery for another time. The stylish outfit that was far more expensive and flattering than anything she owned back home. She hesitated for a moment at the door, then took a deep breath and stepped out into the hallway.
The penthouse apartment was even more luxurious than the bedroom, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. A sleek kitchen boasted marble countertops and state-of-the-art appliances, while the living area featured lush green plants and a massive wall-mounted television. There was a shelf lined with awards—plaques and trophies that bore her name and celebrated achievements she had never actually accomplished.
She had to get to the bottom of this. The calendar said she was due at the studio in an hour and a half. Maybe she could find some answers there, a familiar face maybe? Or at least, someone who might explain how she had ended up here.
Arriving at the studio, Ava was greeted by a whirlwind of activity. People rushed past her, carrying equipment and clipboards, setting up lighting, arranging props. Several of them called out to her by name, waving and smiling. It seemed this world’s Ava Green was well-liked, well-known, and well-respected.
As she was ushered to the dressing room, Ava struggled to keep up with the stream of instructions from a perky assistant who appeared at her side, talking a mile a minute about the day’s schedule. “Dr. Lowry is already here for pre-interview notes,” the assistant explained, “and your co-host for the second segment, Ryan, will join you just before you go on air. Oh, and don’t forget, you have that photoshoot immediately after the show. The photographer will meet you downstairs.”
“Right,” Ava mumbled, her mind spinning. She stepped into the dressing room, where a team of makeup artists and stylists immediately descended upon her. She tried to maintain composure as they brushed and powdered, fluffed and fussed over her hair and clothes.
The familiar face staring back at her in the dressing room mirror was still jarring, even with the polished appearance and expertly applied makeup. She couldn’t escape the feeling of being an imposter, trying to play the role of a woman she didn’t know, even if that woman was somehow another version of herself.
Just as the final touches were being applied, a knock sounded at the door, and a tall, sharply dressed man entered. “Ava!” he exclaimed with a broad grin. “You ready to go? It’s going to be a great show today.”
She forced a smile, realizing this must be Ryan, the co-host. “Absolutely,” she replied, hoping the word sounded confident enough.
As they walked down the corridor toward the set, Ava felt like she was stepping onto a stage in a play for which she hadn’t learned any lines. She didn’t know how this version of her usually acted, spoke, or interacted with the people around her. But the lights were bright, the cameras were rolling, and as they approached the stage, there was no turning back.
The set of The Ava Green Show was sleek and modern, with a glass-topped table, plush chairs, and the show’s logo prominently displayed in the background. A small studio audience sat behind the cameras, their applause filling the air as she and Ryan took their seats. Thank god there was a teleprompter, she was saved!
The intro music faded out, and Ava felt a surge of adrenaline. She had no choice but to go with it, to let the words come out as naturally as she could manage. “Welcome to The Ava Green Show!” she began, her voice steady despite the chaos in her mind. “Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of cannabis-based treatments for anxiety and stress. I’m so excited to have Dr. Lowry with us, who’s a leading expert in the field.”
As the interview unfolded, Ava found herself slipping into a rhythm. It was as if some part of her instinctively knew what to do—knew how to guide the conversation, ask insightful questions, and respond with enthusiasm. Maybe there was more of her true self in this version of Ava Green than she initially thought.
But even as she performed for the cameras, her mind wandered to her other life. What was happening with Chris and the kids? She pictured Emily’s tangled hair at breakfast, Alex whining about his lost homework, Noah’s boundless energy, and little Lily’s chubby hands reaching for her to be picked up. Did that other Ava, if she existed, know how to care for them?
The show ended to thunderous applause, and Ava felt a strange mix of relief and exhilaration.
