Chimera Workshop

The story is about a man named Harold who has lead a painfully boring life as an accountant and dreams of better, colorful experiences. To make some money (though it’s unclear why he’s desperate for the money), he tries to sell his dreams to Rashid, a man who works in a business called Chimera. Chimera buys dreams and sells them to people who suffer from nightmares, such as PTSD patients. When Rashid does not offer Harold enough money, it becomes clear that Harold is more afraid of experiencing his dreams in reality, despite his yearning to do so.

            I think you have a good concept—the idea of a man trying to sell his dreams to force himself into experiencing but then being too afraid carries with it a lot tension. However, I’d like to know a little more about Chimera and what specifically pushed Harold into going there. You give some information about his childhood and young adult life, but I find myself more interested in his more recent past. It seems like he’s going through a mid-life crisis, but I think a little more details about that would strengthen the piece. What exactly is going through his head? How is he feeling?

            I also want to mention that for the first page and a half, I thought Harold was waiting for the results of medical a test. There is a lot of description of his anxiety, such as “He feels uncomfortable, and every time he moves, the chair squeaks.” Also, the way Rashid is introduced coming through a door and writing numbers on a piece of paper makes me think of a medical professional. Perhaps this is the feeling you wanted to evoke, but I almost missed that Chimera is a business the first time I read it. Maybe try to establish what Chimera is a bit earlier in the story, but I think likening it to a medical facility is a good idea, especially since Harold receives a bit of counseling near the end.