Every night when Dream goes to sleep, he meets a reflection. This reflection talks and smiles in a way he doesn't. But at the same time, moves and acts in a way that's far too familiar. This reflection was Dream and yet was not.

His name was Clay.

Clay sought to help, he said. He sought to make things right. He listened when he ranted and talked when he couldn't get words out. They clashed sometimes but they fit. And for all his bitterness and anger and hurt, Dream found himself better.

Eventually, Clay convinced him to get away, from everything.

Then, suddenly, the meetings stopped.

...

When a man suddenly appeared in the SMP with the face of his best friend-turned-enemy, Sapnap felt a lot of things. Anger was one, among others, and he was very much inclined to simply run his sword through him without any more thought.

But then they spoke, and this Dream – Clay, he had hastily introduced, Sapnap almost had a panic attack, then, because Clay wasn't a name any of them had used in a long time – was different. Different in a way he was the same as Dream was back then. There is a sneaking thought at the back of Sapnap's head that he is the Dream back then, but he still doesn't know what happened – what is happening – so he didn't tell anyone. Not even George.

...