I once had a dream in which I was carrying a heavy bag to the top of a hill. Once I arrived there, I came across three beings who I knew were there, but who my real-world mind could not directly see. Or maybe they were so strange that I forgot what they looked like as soon as I woke up. Nevertheless, I stopped when I saw them, and they turned to me. One of them finally asked who I was and I introduced myself. Then I asked for the same in return.

"I am the Brain," said one.

"I am the Stomach," said another.

"I am the Heart," said the third.

And that was all they said.

Taking into account the odd names of the three present, I decided that I would offer them some sort of tribute in exchange for the answers to my questions. I took the bag off my back and laid its contents out before me. For such a heavy bag, it contained only three things: a rose, a book, and a piece of cake. I decided that the Stomach would be the first in my competition, and I took up the piece of cake and called it forward.

"Stomach," I began, "I will give you this item if you answer my question honestly. What kind of cake do you like? Is it this one?"

The Stomach laughed a gurgling laugh and then replied, "You stupid girl! That's not a cake. That's a pie!"

Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was indeed a slice of pie. Feeling abashed, I gave the Stomach its prize. It gobbled the pie up, gurgled in thanks, and then left down the side of the mountain, never to be seen again.

I looked at my remaining items and took up the book. It was heavy and think, much like anyone's college dictionary, and I called the Brain forward and showed it the item.

"Brain," I began, "I will give you this item if you answer my question honestly. What kind of book do you like? Do you like long, boring books like this one?"

The Brain scoffed at me and then replied, "You foolish girl! You never judge a book by its cover!"

It took the book from my hands and opened it. As soon as the pages were free to the air, rainbows, euphonious sounds, and all sorts of harmonious images erupted from them. I was hesitant to give it away, but I knew that the Brain deserved it. The Brain nodded to me and then left down the side of the mountain, never to be seen again, just as the Stomach had done.

By now, the sun was setting. Although I had given away most of the items in my bag, I was determined to finish the journey that I had started, even though my real-world self was unsure of the dream-me's goals. There was only one other atop the mountain with me, and it looked expectantly at me for its challenge. There was only the plain rose left. I wondered about it for a long time, but there was nothing much to wonder about it. It was a rose, plain and simple, but I was determined to challenge the Heart just as I had done the Stomach and Brain.

I picked up the rose and held it before the Heart.

"Heart," I began, "I will give you this item if you answer my question honestly. What is the thing most asked of you? Is it to love, to live, to be happy?"

The Heart shuffled wearily toward me and replied in a sad voice, "You poor girl, I am most asked to tell lies."

I was so stunned by the reply that I did not notice as the Heart walked away and night fell on the mountain. Still, I was not weary; I could not sleep. As I bent down to retie my bag, I saw that the Heart had never taken my rose and that the item was still there, withering in my hand.