Why Should I Dream?

By Anastasios Georgiou

“I will reveal my biggest secret to you! Many people think I’m crazy. Why? Because at night, I still sit on my windowpane and look at the sky... Because I still believe that there are stars, ready to fulfill my dreams... Why have the stars disappeared from the sky? Don’t they love people anymore, or have people forced them to go into hiding?”
In the darkness that has inundated planet Earth, every hope for humanity seems to have been lost. Dreams are about to disappear forever, and the universe seems ready to get lost along with them. A boy, Agathoulis, fights his own battle to keep his dreams alive. But fighting alone is tough. So, he makes the decision to surrender and give in to the new well-organised social system. The end of the world is nigh, since the last creature on Earth that kept on dreaming is quitting. While everything seems to be over, there comes a star that still believes in people and believes in our young protagonist. And so it begins: A journey to the Land of Dreams. There, Agathoulis tries to understand the importance of dreams and find the strength to save humanity from its imminent destruction.
Maybe he will achieve it, maybe not...

• Language: English
• Publisher: iWrite - Pigi - Daidaleos
• Release date: Aug 26, 2020

Book preview

why_dream_ebook.jpg

title: Why Should I Dream?

author: Anastasios Georgiou

translation: Dr Dimitris Thanasoulas

ebook edition: August 2020

isbn: 978-960-627-178-6

ebook’s layout was done by iWrite.gr publishing ateliers

An Pigi Publication

Thessaloniki - Athens

Copyright © by iWrite Publications. Unauthorized reproduction of this ebook is prohibited under the Copyright law of the European Union and the international Intellectual property law schemes.

Author’s bio

Anastasios Georgiou was born in the province of Paphos, Cyprus, on May 18th, 1994. He graduated from the Law Faculty of the Jean Moulin Lyon III, University of Lyon, France. Then, he completed a postgraduate programme of the Centre International de Formation Européenne with a specialisation in International and European Studies. He is currently studying for a second degree in Linguistics at the Open University of Cyprus.

He has published his first book entitled Why Should I Dream? with which he took part in the National Literature Awards of Cyprus and got shortlisted. He was also nominated for a Public Literature Award after earning a place in the audience’s ten choices. His second book, Looking for a Better Tomorrow, participated in the Literature Writing Competition of the Cypriot Association of Children and Youth’s Books and received an award in 2015. His third book entitled Looking for Inspiration was published in 2019 and is nominated at the National Literature Awards of Cyprus. He lives and works in Athens.

Author’s note

You may say I’m a dreamer sang John Lennon, making people dream. I’d like these people to stop feeling lonely, and keep hoping. Maybe I’m one of them.

I decided to write this philosophical fairytale as I wanted to share my innermost thoughts and predicaments. Although it looks like a simple fairytale, the specific book has as its main theme the society of the 21st century. It tackles our way of living and thinking. It is the wanderings of a small boy who keeps dreaming amid a hard world, where people have changed the way they think and their mentality. It portrays the image of our society through Agathoulis’s experiences. Having a star, Avgerinos, as his guide and protector, the hero, through a journey, tries to save humanity from the incoming loss of dreams, which will lead to the destruction of the universe.

Where are the dreams that used to give people an impetus? Are we really ready and determined to live out our dreams without fear, or do we simply want to experience some hard and tragic situations? There is a fine thread dividing dreams and reality. Human beings can do everything, as long as they firmly believe in, and yield to, their dreams.

I want to dedicate this book to those who really keep on dreaming. To those who have stopped listening to the opinions of those basking in their comfort zone, well ensconced in a society that has stopped hoping and believing in its children. To those who do not intend to let anyone stand in their way by means of their negativity. Dream on and follow your dreams. Only then will you find your way.

Anastasios Georgiou

Chapter One

A world on the rocks

I will tell you a story. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. I don’t think it really matters. You must be wondering who I am. Or maybe you don’t really care. Everything is possible in life. I might be someone special that you are supposed to know. On the other hand, I may be nothing—if it’s possible for anyone to be nothing. I will introduce myself later on. Maybe you will love me, maybe not. Still, I hope you will. For we all need to be loved.

So, I don’t like putting things off. My story goes like that:

A horrendous storm breaks out on Earth. Never before has humanity experienced anything like that. The sky is dark and overcast. The only thing that intermittently blows off the gloomy clouds are the constant thunderclaps. Their light rends the dark sky every so often. A light that doesn’t appease human souls, but spreads terror. The rain and the wind won’t abate. They whip everything with all their might.

In these adverse conditions, there is a place on this planet every human being would sacrifice their all to be. It may not be covered or protected against the raging storm, but they couldn’t care less. It is a simple square—if it can really be considered simple. Thousands of people have gathered in the big main square of the capital city, outside a huge building. They look at its black gate, and their anticipation is mounting. Their hearts are racing. For some reason, they are passionately shouting slogans. How weird this picture seems to me! After all, many years have passed since the last time they fought for anything with real passion.

This building is quite old. It has been built in a classical order. White marble has been used, and it features three huge columns of Corinthian order that support the pediment, which is adorned with the figures of people from another era, like Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, John Locke, Voltaire, and many others, whose ideas founded and helped human civilisation to evolve. Perhaps, as of tomorrow, they will no longer decorate this building. But it’s better that way. I am sure that, if these wise and eminent people lived today, they would feel proud to bedeck the Parliament. Perhaps, people won’t have the time to remove these figures from the building. Perhaps, taking on a life of their own, they will prefer to vanish into thin air.

In what is called Parliament, hordes of people are now gathering, dressed in suits and ties, and holding leather briefcases. They are all so much alike. Refined, moneyed, intelligent and, above all, with lots of clout. Leaders, individuals who can easily throw their weight around and blaze a trail for humanity. Still, there is something eerie about their eyes.

For some reason, there is lots of commotion around the Parliament today, there are cameras all over the place. They are going to broadcast to people the final vote for the new bill. They say that the President of the Republic will announce the result.

Everyone takes their positions on the dark wooden seats of the main hall that resembles an ancient theatre. Maybe, it was deliberately made that way. After all, the term ‘Parliament’ is often mixed up with that of the theatre nowadays. Each of these politicians, hidden behind a mask, feigns his or her own role in this well-staged social tragedy. Three hundred members of parliament in all. In the past, three hundred men fought for their country and their own freedom. Now, what are these three hundred people fighting for? I wonder. Are they ready to make their important decision?

One of the reporters starts her introduction:

Well, today is the day when we will put an end to the absurdity that once reigned supreme in human society. After numerous rallies that have been held against dreams, the new bill is now about to be voted. How many years have people been waiting for this change? At long last, they’ll be able to live bereft of any dreams. These silly dreams. Who needs dreams in the 21st century? No one!

The media, as always, play their own pivotal role. Like loyal dogs, they follow their masters, and obey their orders. This way, the clientelism between the channels and the powers that be is going strong. They secure their survival and financial profit by misleading and brainwashing viewers, who are ready to believe and regurgitate like mouthpieces whatever they hear or see on their TV screens or radios.

Now, all television screens are tuned in to the main newscast of the Misinformation Channel. The only existing channel, that is. After all, a decision was made to merge all TV channels under state control.

The three hundred MP’s are ready to vote for the abolition of citizens’ right to dream. A plan that will whisk society off to another level, bringing about an immense development in all important sectors, especially the financial one. This is at least what is being touted by the planet’s politicians.

Yes, indeed…The voting procedure is over. The President of the Republic, with an almost fiendish smile and a blank frozen stare, looks at the camera opposite him, and yells:

Two hundred and ninety-nine for, and one against.

Cheers resound throughout the hall and every house and square…A wave of euphoria sweeps through the city! Amid their joy, though, they notice that someone dared oppose the common weal. Someone dared vote against. How could he? He must have had some kind of a mental problem or, even worse, some liberal world-views.

They should wipe him out immediately, for he undermines the balance they had managed to achieve. Certainly, he is in for a series of tortures. The punishment foreseen for those who dream is life sentence and, in some cases, even death. Only by killing these abominable creatures will society ever manage to advance towards development and prosperity. Can anyone dare dream now? After all, what are all these loafers in aid of?

Everything goes according to the plan approved by the state. Society is running like clockwork, yet a simple dream can compromise the whole mechanism, finally its hands freezing. Now is the time to secure and protect this clock.

Radical changes will be made to every sector. Even the education system will be modified. Social sciences have no place in it. All the historical and philosophical books must be burnt forthwith. The crazy ideas they contain can no longer circulate among the youth, influencing them. Who’s that Plato and Aristotle? Since they can’t burn them at the stake, they will burn their works. This way, they will put an end to all these obsolete useless ideas.

Down with democracy, freedom of thought, philosophy and, generally, humanity, as we have known it so far.

Young people must gain utilitarian, not anthropocentric, knowledge. Only profit is at the heart of society. It’s imperative to wipe out virtues and ideals, so as to create a new world characterised by financial prosperity and technological growth. Nowadays, who is interested in the kalos kagathos (beautiful and virtuous) citizen? This day is historic.

There is congestion in the streets. The capital city is like a huge jungle with primitive people that look more like beasts about to devour their prey.

Groups of citizens storm into the houses of people