He decided it was a sign that he needed to make his dream of being a building designer a reality.

VOA: special.2010.04.14

That's what it is: "It does not refer to reality, but to a dream."

的确就是如此：“这和现实没有关系，只是梦幻“

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选