Dreamworld

I had a dream.

A dream where I find myself floating in an endless void of quietude. A place where soothing music of silence and solitary which I yearned for all my life is always heard. The kind of isolation I seek where I am free from pain, anguish, and betrayal. I'm all alone but free.

It was like home to me. And I want that.

I sometimes wonder why it's happening but I am pleased that it occurs. It's just a dream but it feels so real. I'm not certain when was the last time I dreamt about that place and I wonder when will I dream about it again.

I am floating, meandering all around.

There was no ground.

There were no trees.

Nobody was there.

No clamor, no pain, no suffering.

I love that place.

That dream was not clear but darkness reigns and the twinkling lights from a distance give light to this dim world of nothingness. Those lights never fail to mesmerize my eyes as they flicker.

I wonder what are those?

Are they stars?

It's quiet and empty but it feels like home. I always find myself floating all around in that dream. Free from problems, free from turmoil, free from pain, and free from suffering.

It's nice.

I feel free.

I feel safe.

I feel at home.

But, it was hardly just a dream.

Wasn't it?

My whole life is full of misery and agony.

I don't get it. I don't understand this world. All I can just do is endure, survive. But is it worth it?

Is it worth it to continue living in this dark and cruel world?

I detest this world.

Loathing is all I can do with my current situation.

Why do I suffer like this?

Why is everything against me?

Why can't I be happy?

Is it too much to ask?

I can't do this any longer! I sobbed.

I'm lying on the ground with no hopes of survival. Watching the people of a village where I was forcefully brought in, screaming in pain. I've used every bit of energy I have. I can no longer survive this. My eyes are getting heavy. It's getting harder to breathe. My eyes are slowly shutting on their own. Another breeze of wind whooshed. The world is slowly getting quieter.

My time has come.

I can no longer feel the wind. I can no longer hear the clamor. I can no longer feel anything. I felt my heart slowly stops beating. My eyes finally shut as I took one final breath.

Exhale.

It's pitch black.

Everything is dark.

I can't see anything.

For some reason, I can't open my eyes. I tried to open them but I can't. I've been freaking out not until I was able to open my eyes. I was surprised after realizing what kind of place I was into.

"Where am I?"

It's sure quiet in here.

How peaceful!

How soothing!

I am floating.

Floating continuously. Moving onward towards the endless trail of nothingness. I have no idea where I am but I loved the feeling of being here. I'll be here all eternity. I felt joy in my heart.

Flickering lights suddenly appeared in great numbers.

Whoa, it's so beautiful!

I am enjoying myself in this weird place but then, I can't remember anything. I can't remember how I got here. I can't remember a single thing. I can't even remember my name.

Who am I?

Whoosh!!!

A gentle breeze of wind blows through me as leaves followed.

Where did that come from?

I turn to face the direction of the breeze. I noticed a bright light there. It's distinct from the flickering lights all around. It shines brightly through my eyes. It's too bright to look at directly. I move towards it to investigate out of curiosity. I was getting closer as I covered my eyes with my hand because it was becoming too bright for me.

The intense brilliance vanished all of a sudden.

I slowly remove my hand from my eyes to take a look. As my eyes adjusted, I was astounded by what I saw.

It's a tree.

A very huge tree that grows on a floating island.

It is so beautiful. I want to feel it. I want to touch it.

I move closer to the tree and set my feet on the ground where the tree was rooted. I stare at it with amazement and joy as my foot touches the ground.

I want to touch it.

I raised my arm and slowly placed my hand on the tree's trunk. Everything went dark before I could even touch its bark with my bare hands. The tree in front of me is no longer there. I'm floating in an endless void. Nothing is visible to me!

The flickering lights also vanished. It's pitch black.

I'm terrified.

What's going on?

What am I supposed to do?

Then I noticed something radiating from a distance. I couldn't identify the source because it was too far away. I took off in search of the source. I keep moving forward to reach it, but it appears to be moving away from me. I tried everything I could to get closer to the light, but it was moving away from me.

As the distance grows greater, the light dims again. I can't see anything because it's dark. Something was triggered by the fear I felt.

Something about myself.

My mind was suddenly flooded with intense pain, grief, despair, and torment. All of these emotions are driving me insane. I'm not sure why I'm feeling such negative feelings. The agony is coursing through my mind and consuming my soul.

Why am I experiencing these emotions?

I'm rubbing my head because it's giving me headaches. I'm perplexed by these emotions.

Why do I feel this?

I have no recollection of these feelings!

However, these rogue feelings made me recover a little bit of memory about this place. I remember it now, but it's hazy. This is the place I've yearned for my entire life. I dubbed it the 'quiet realm.'

I remember this place, I keep dreaming about this place but why does it look different?

Why do I feel different?

Where does this pain coming from?

I recall that I want to stay here for all eternity because it feels like home to me.

But why?

I remember that I am free to do anything here. This is my place, my home.

But if this place was my refuge, my sanctuary, my place, why do I still feel things like this?

I'm already here but why do I feel uneasy and empty?

I don't understand.

I wept.

Why do I feel this kind of feeling?

I'm free but why do I feel like I am not?

Why?

Ugh!

My head hurts.

I'm unsettled because of the barrage of emotions that keeps rushing through my mind. These emotions seem to be mine, but I can't recall anything.

I wept out of perplexity.

Something gleamed in front of my eyes all of a sudden. The tree reappeared, but it felt different this time. The tree seemed to be trying to tell me something. I stare at it, perplexed by its existence. I wipe away my tears as I try not to cry. I raise my hand in an attempt to reach the tree, gazing in awe at it. As I get closer to the tree, something flashes into my eyes as my hand makes contact with its trunk. Something familiar, something painful, something I don't remember happening. I immediately removed my hand from the contact.

What was that?

What I witnessed terrified me. Everything is hazy, but I can see destruction, pain, death, suffering, and despair.

What does it mean?

What was that?

Who are they?

I am heaving in terror. I don't know what just happened.

What was that I'd seen?

Was it a memory?

A prophecy?

I don't know.

I take deep breaths as I examine my hand. I have a feeling I have something in my hand. I couldn't see it, but I know there's something in there. Panting, I return my gaze to the tree. I get drowsy and dizzy just looking at it. My eyes are getting heavy.

Why am I sleepy?

Then, my eyes shut.

•••

The light shining on my face jolted me awake. When I opened my eyes again, there was a bright blue sky in front of me. I saw trees dance as a result of the strong wind. The birds were chirping and everything was peaceful. A butterfly flew right by me. I found myself lying on the grass in a forest that I had no recollection of entering. I stand up and notice that I was wearing white clothes that had been torn and partially burned.

It was truly dirty and worn out.

What happened?

I later realize that I am not in the quiet realm anymore.

Why am I here?

That's the question I wanted to be answered. I touch my head and suddenly, a severe headache hit me.

Ugh!

It hurts.

I fell to my knees because of the intense headache I felt. I can't remember anything. All I remember is, I was in the quiet realm with that tree and that's it.

What should I do?

What… where am I?

I must look for answers but where do I start?

Where should I go?

What should I do first?

Grumble!

I heard my stomach complain. I better find some food. That will be the first thing I must do. I looked around and scanned my surrounding but I see none.

I'm starving.

Where should I look for food?

I tried to look for something. I went for a walk, looking for food. My mind was thrown off by a sudden flash of memory. In that memory, I saw something round and red. That red round thing appears to be delectable. A recollection jogged my memory, and I remembered what that red round thing was.

An apple.

I want that. I want to eat that.

But where can I find one?

I am so hungry.

I tripped and fell to the ground by accident. I then heard some rustling but didn't look because I was too hungry to move. When something caught my eye, I pushed myself against the ground to stand. My eyes were still adjusting to the bright light from the sun. My face lit up with excitement as I gained clear vision and saw the red things I had wished for.

Wait, I don't remember any apple tree growing in there! Well, who cares? I'm hungry and I want apples!

I dash towards it, picking as many apples as I can. As far as I recall, this would be the first time I had tasted this delectable fruit. I took my first bite and was blown away by how delicious it was.

Yum, it's so good!

I ate until my stomach couldn't take it any longer. I lay down under a tree after eating seven apples. It was extremely satisfying. I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to taste this fruit in my life.

I am overjoyed.

But then I remembered the thing that I saw in the quiet realm.

Was that real?

Those things I saw, were those real?

Is it just a dream?

What was that?

Who are they?

Is the world gonna end?

Also, I began to wonder why I'm here in the forest.

What am I doing here?

One thing for sure, I do not know.

I am sleepy. My eyes are heavy. Maybe I'll just take a short nap. As I close my eyes, everything is at peace. However, the things I saw the moment I touched that mysterious tree keeps bothering me.

Why did I saw those?

There is still one question in my mind, a question that remained unanswered.

I opened my eyes and sat down, wondering.

What is my purpose?

Because I do not know.

I take a look around the forest. Examining every nook and cranny. The trees rustled once more. As I let out a sigh, I decided to stand up. All I want to do now is look. Look for something that will assist me in finding answers. I can't remember who or how I know this, but something tells me that there is a location that may contain all of the answers to my questions.

I don't know how will it answer all of my wonders but it's the only thing I know. In my vague memory and as far as I could remember, someone or something told me that there's a body of water that holds all the answers, flowing continuously and endlessly. A massive river that… well, I can't remember everything but it was something like that. I'll probably be searching for the unknown. I have no idea where and when I heard that. It just popped out in my head.

Should I seek help?

Is there someone or something that can give me all the answers?

I doubt that.

I sigh in frustration as I try to figure out where to begin. When I heard something rustling in my direction, I lost track of my thoughts. When I looked back, I noticed some bushes swerving to the side. I crept behind a tree and didn't dare to look.

I am heaving. I am nervous. I am scared.

What was it?

I then heard some heavy panting.

Is it a person?

I decided to take a look and noticed a boy wearing a brown cloak. The boy slips and falls to the ground. As his face hits the ground, he grunts. He attempted to stand, but he appears to be injured. On him, I noticed some wounds and scratches. He appears to have been attacked. He looked shocked and in desperate need of assistance. He was hurt and needed immediate assistance.

I should help him.

"Ugh!"

I heard the boy grunted. He is in a bad condition. I look at the boy again and saw myself in him.

Why do I feel like I already experienced that kind of thing before?

I don't understand, but I have to help him. I can't stand watching someone suffer. I was about to walk out when I heard growling. I retreated to the bushes and waited. A colossal black furry beast appeared. The boy's eyes are filled with anguish and fear as he looks at the beast. He crept away from the beast. He appears to be helpless and terrified. He makes himself crawl as if his life depends on it.

Actually, it is.

As the boy crawled away from it, the beast slowly followed him. The creature stood up on two feet and demonstrated its enormous size to us. The beast is indeed enormous. The creature appears to be extremely vicious. It then stomped its feet on the ground and growled at the boy. I look at the boy and realize that he already knows I'm here, hiding, peering through the bushes.

He looks at me.

He looks at me as if he's asking for my assistance. I kept staring at him, and then I noticed an expression of acceptance on his face. I saw tears streaming from his eyes down to his bleeding face. He had already accepted death. I had an odd feeling as I looked at his face.

Why does it feel like I've seen that face before?

He appears to be someone I know. I believe I've met him before. The most intriguing aspect, however, is the cloak he is wearing. It appears to be familiar.

I'm perplexed.

"Do you remember now?" A gentle voice struck me with surprise.

What was that?

It was a voice. I am certain that it wasn't someone who's here in this forest.

What was that?

Who is that?

A memory?

Is it a memory?

I have no recollection of anyone ever saying that to me. I'm not even sure if that was a dream. That voice startled me, but why did I feel at ease after hearing such a warm and tender voice? What is it that makes me feel like I've forgotten something? That voice seemed to want to tell me something that bothered me. Perhaps it's just my imagination, but I'm hearing different voices in my head. I had a vague recollection of something whispering in my ears. I'm hearing voices I've never heard before. My memories are gradually returning, but my mind is still blank. When I saw the beast raise its paw, ready to claw the boy, I returned to reality.

What should I do?

He's gonna die if I don't do anything! I glance at them again. I am breathing heavily, I'm panicking. I should step out and help.

But how?

I heard the creature roar and the boy wail. I'm hesitant, but I have to do what I have to do. I emerged from the bushes and ran towards them. I ran as fast as I could to help someone I didn't know. I took a stone and hurled it as hard as I could at the beast. I hit it on the head, which enraged it. The ferocious beast growls at me and charges forward. Everything was moving very slowly as it rushed in my direction.

I witnessed my life as it passed through the lenses of my eyes. I return my gaze to the boy, and this time I can see the cloak clearly. It is emblazoned with a silver-like emblem.

I found a fragment.

I regained some of my memories at that precise moment.

I remember now.

But at what cost?

I cast a glance at the boy who was yelling at me to flee. I was already within reach of the wild creature as I returned my gaze to it.

My reflexes were too slow.

Even if I flee or avoid its claw, it's too late for me. I close my eyes and accept the fact that this is the end of my life. At the very least, I was able to save someone, which makes me happy. Being killed by the ferocious beast would give the boy enough time to flee. I know I didn't get the answer I wanted, but at least I was able to save someone who was in danger.

That's more than enough for me.

Well, that's what I assumed.