A subway journey in New York

...

The light was almost searing into my retinas; I thought I was going blind. It was so intense, akin to staring at the sun for too long, leaving one unable to perceive the surrounding world in the moments that follow.

In about twenty seconds - which felt like two hours - I began to discern shadows of people pointing at one another, generating electrifying signals that crisscrossed between them. Each person touched emerged with clothing of a different color than before the moment I teetered on the edge of insanity. Imagine the typical subway commuter in faded jeans and a dark pullover; suddenly, that same individual was transforming attire, as if I were viewing a digital screen where I could select colors and clothing pieces at will.

I felt transported to a magical wonderland brimming with glitter and a dreamlike aura enveloping me. I could not discern whether this was reality or if I were truly losing my sight, witnessing the final hidden dreams of my subconscious projected like an old film reel as my last neurons fired in liberation.

Amid this uncertainty of what constituted reality, a towering figure - almost transparent against the surroundings, crowned with an aureole, whispered to me:

"You have arrived in the true world. With such a beautiful mind of minds, you can now perceive existence through rose-colored glasses—and this is how the world truly appears to those who cherish the precious value of our being."

I asked him softly, as my voice was fading:

"Will I never see the gray sky again? But that seems impossible."

He replied:

"You will see it, but the gray will reveal other shades to you."