A Dream of Motherhood
Following a severe suicide attempt involving a significant overdose of medication in June 2025, 19-year-old Clélia Verdier of Lyon, France, was placed
into a medically induced coma for three weeks. Unbeknownst to her, during this period, her mind constructed an elaborate reality. Verdier experienced what felt like an entire lifetime within her dreams, which she perceived as her actual existence. Among these intensely vivid experiences, the most impactful was the profound illusion of motherhood. She vividly recalls the sensations associated with giving birth, including the stress and significant pain, ultimately bringing triplets into the world. She named them Mila, Miles, and Maïlée. Tragically, in this dream narrative, Maïlée passed away shortly after birth, a loss that plunged Verdier into deep sadness and overwhelming guilt. She cherishes the memory of the initial skin-to-skin contact with her babies, describing it as an incredibly powerful moment filled with immense love. The dream continued for seven years, during which she nurtured and watched her daughters grow, imbuing each with distinct personalities. She recounts shared meals, bedtime stories, and the deep, heartfelt affection she felt for them, all within this fabricated existence.
Shattering Reality's Grip
Upon awakening from her three-week coma, Clélia Verdier was confronted with a devastating truth that shattered her perceived reality. Medical staff informed her that the three daughters she had so vividly experienced and loved were, in fact, figments of her imagination. This revelation was an unimaginable shock. Verdier had been so deeply immersed in her dream that upon regaining consciousness, she immediately told her parents they had become grandparents, utterly convinced of her motherhood. The subsequent struggle to accept that she had never actually been a mother has been profound, and even a year later, she finds it incredibly difficult to come to terms with. She describes feeling disconnected from those around her, still experiencing the emotional void left by the absence of her dreamt-of children. Despite acknowledging that it was 'just a dream,' the intensity of her feelings and experiences have left her with an enduring sense of maternal connection, viewing that period as her sole reality for a significant time. Looking ahead, Verdier expresses a desire to have real children in the future, acknowledging that while they will hold a distinct place in her heart, it will be one of equal importance.
