The Wicked Well of Darkness - Part 2: Lost

By: Bernice Au

PART 2: LOST

I walked along the snowy pavement for a tremendously long time. I planned to stop until I hopefully saw an end, but there wasn’t an end. I repeated the same motion, over and over again, until darkness fell. I’ve been stuck in this dream, my dream, my tiny vast world, where I create everything. And there’s no end to it.

Today’s the 155th day inside this dream. I first landed in this miserable, fake world by accidentally falling into a well, one that caught my eye. There was this light glowing from a crystal, a magical light. Now, I know that the ‘light’ was only there to suck people inside its world.

There were many doors when I first fell into the well, all of them locked except for one.I blankly stepped inside, with no idea what would happen next.

That was the biggest mistake I had ever made. I shouldn’t have stepped inside this door - I should have climbed out of the well as fast as possible. But now, it’s no use. I am trapped inside. Whatever I imagine comes to life.

At first, I traveled to every beautiful destination imaginable, trying all the world’s different cultural dishes; I had everything I ever wanted. As the weeks went by, one after another, I began to feel trapped inside my perfect dream world. This world where I could do anything I wanted to, but deep down, I knew it was fake, I knew I had to return to the real world.

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I wondered every single day if I would reach it's limit, and I haven’t yet. Maybe this is a waste of time. Maybe there’s another solution to get out of this phony, hideous world.

I tried to imagine my parents, ...but I had forgotten what they looked like! I imagined my house, but I forgot how it was shaped! I imagined being in the real world, but nothing changed.

This morning when I woke up, it was pouring. Heavy rain dropped from the mist-filled sky. The weather was always reflected in my emotions and feelings. It was never wrong for a single day.

I continued walking, on the snowy pavement, as I always did, under the heavy rain. For the first time, the rain suddenly stopped. Usually, the weather only changes at night after I sleep, just before a brand new day. Today, it changed out of nowhere. The skies turned bright, and the sun shone so brightly that my idle eyes couldn’t handle its light. My emotions haven’t changed at all. Maybe today is the day I can return to the real world?

Suddenly, pictures of my forgotten memories materialized in the snow around me. They kept on showing up, one by one, - and that’s how I remembered everything.

In the brightest memory, I was celebrating my eighth birthday. Lovely classical music awoke my ears as I walked inside the hotel. Shiny, silver tiles on the floor reflected the magical water-fountains, golden lamps lit up as I excitedly walked in the corridor, vivid paintings and aesthetic sculptures were placed in between each golden lamp. A huge, metallic, brown door stood before me. Sweetness gathered under my tongue, a flourishing scent emerged in the gentle air. The door opened to present a large dining room with huge, shimmering, winged birds carved on the walls of the room, my eyes glowed. A flaming heat spread throughout my body as I ran around the room. My fingers gripped the threads connecting the bouncing balloons that rose to the ceiling. My bubbly giggle brought smiles to everyone because they all wanted me to be happy.

Sweetness filled my mouth as the waiters and waitresses rushed one plate after another onto the dining table, I devoured every single serving of yummy food. A deep raspberry sourness and buttery, foam-like, cream that surrounded the crunchiness of the cupcake filled my mouth. I ate and ate until all the delicious food filled my tummy. The fresh food continues glazing upon my eyes, although my arms wouldn’t take another cupcake. The chefs tiring stirring and flipping food was heard even ten meters away, they poured their heart and soul into every single one of the delicious food I ate. The crust of the cake felt so soft but crunchy at the same time, appealing white cream as soft as foam and dark red raspberries circled the inner flames of love, candles lit. I took one big breath and blew them. Trails of smoke disappeared into thin air as the crowd cheered and sang the most harmonious happy birthday to me, I wished to be happy forever.

But that fragile wish came to an end when I entered this world.

But now, I knew exactly what to do.

I ran to that memory, and jumped into it, just like how I foolishly ended up here.

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I was back at the riverside, faraway mountains covered in an immaculate carpet of emerald-green, and clouds that floated in soft, gentle wisps. The exact place where I happened to find the cave, and the well. Where the awful dream started. And now, where it ends.

I am back in the real world. Where I belong.

Image: Gutierez, L. (n.d.). Travel Insurance Options for Traveling Abroad [Photograph; Pinterest]. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/556827941433247268/