The house was quiet. Saad curled up in his bed and held his favorite toy tight. Soon, his breathing turned slow and soft.
A golden shimmer filled the room. Saad blinked and found himself on a path of sparkling blue stones. A mouse in red shorts waved both hands. "Ready to explore?" Saad grinned so wide his cheeks ached.
They ran through a castle made of crystal. The walls sparkled in colors he had never seen before. Tiny bells hummed with every step they took.
The mouse opened a door and revealed a room full of floating pillows. Saad hopped onto one and bounced — boing! It bounced right back with a soft sound.
The mouse whistled and a train made of glowing stars appeared on a track floating in the sky. They climbed inside and the train zoomed away.
The train zoomed through a forest where the trees glowed from within like lanterns. A squirrel waved from a branch. Saad waved back so hard he nearly tipped over.
The mouse tapped his foot and a table appeared with a tower of rainbow cupcakes. Saad picked one up and took a bite. It tasted like warm cookies and summer air.
The mouse clapped his little white gloves and Saad giggled so hard. The world around him started to fade to soft white.
Morning light spilled across the floor. Saad woke up in his cozy bed with his mouse toy clutched tight against his chest.
He pressed a kiss to the toy's head and whispered, "Best dream ever." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and smiled.