u/Zarnius

His son woke up, got ready, had some breakfast and a cup of chocolate-flavoured milk and went off to school.

He, after getting ready, was reading a book. It was a collection of short stories, gifted to him by a friend.

He read, "The story of Elisa"

"There was a girl named Elisa. A girl with no parents, no siblings, perhaps there was someone whom she called her sibling. It was something that looked like a thick log of wood. It had a face, it could hear, it could see, but it couldn't speak. It was unable to move."

"See did everything to keep it alive and well, for it was the only one that she had."

"She dropped nine drops of blood in front of it every day. Because she heard in the marketplace people gossiping about what the log wanted, she didn't bother eating the bread, apart from the bare minimum that could make her stand on her feet and keep moving for her son (as she called it). She didn't eat because her son didn't. She tried to make her son eat those breads now and then, but to no avail."

"While buying bread, she overheard that there is a doctor who knows something about the logs, for he himself has many. He was an expert in the subject of these logs. She wanted to know the right ways to raise her son. But she was not able to do so, because he was a man of status and, more importantly, she was very busy with her struggles and sacrifices; perhaps the first reason was just a reason she convinced herself of. "

"It was said that the doctor never dropped the blood, never tried to make the logs eat bread. But he gave them the things they needed, the things necessary for them."

"The log was weakening, its condition worsening day by day. 'Despite all my sacrifices,' she thought. She kept crying in front of her son, asking why he was not getting better despite all her sacrifices. She kept repeating it, again and again. 'Where did I go wrong?' Was her question."

"At last, the log, with all its power and energy, with all its might, spoke. It said, '...Ne... Ne...Never... a...' These were its final words."

As soon as he finished reading it, his wife reminded him about the time and that he was getting late.

They both went off together on their bike; she got off first and reminded him to bring some fresh vegetables and some bread when he came back home.

His son woke up, got ready, had some breakfast and a cup of chocolate-flavoured milk and went off to school.

He, after getting ready, was reading a book. It was a collection of short stories, gifted to him by a friend.

He read, "The story of Elisa"

"There was a girl named Elisa. A girl with no parents, no siblings, perhaps there was someone whom she called her sibling. It was something that looked like a thick log of wood. It had a face, it could hear, it could see, but it couldn't speak. It was unable to move."

"She did everything to keep it alive and well, for it was the only one that she had."

"She dropped nine drops of blood in front of it every day. Because she heard in the marketplace people gossiping about what the log wanted, she didn't bother eating the bread, apart from the bare minimum that could make her stand on her feet and keep moving for her son (as she called it). She didn't eat because her son didn't. She tried to make her son eat those breads now and then, but to no avail."

"While buying bread, she overheard that there is a doctor who knows something about the logs, for he himself has many. He was an expert in the subject of these logs. She wanted to know the right ways to raise her son. But she was not able to do so, because he was a man of status and, more importantly, she was very busy with her struggles and sacrifices; perhaps the first reason was just a reason she convinced herself of. "

"It was said that the doctor never dropped the blood, never tried to make the logs eat bread. But he gave them the things they needed, the things necessary for them."

"The log was weakening, its condition worsening day by day. 'Despite all my sacrifices,' she thought. She kept crying in front of her son, asking why he was not getting better despite all her sacrifices. She kept repeating it, again and again."

"At last, the log, with all its power and energy, with all its might, spoke. It said, '...Ne... Ne...Never... a...' These were its final words."

As soon as he finished reading it, his wife reminded him about the time and that he was getting late.

They both went off together on their bike; she got off first and reminded him to bring some fresh vegetables and some bread when he came back home.

A grand wagon drawn by two horses, copper-rimmed wheels, a sumptuous sable hood, and silver horseshoes, was his dream.

He set out with his crutch, a sumptuous sable crutch it was. He greeted everyone he saw with a bright smile, walking like a gentleman as he neared his destination.

A sound of marching caught everyone's ears. A wagon pulled by two massive horses thundered toward him. The driver's face was white with terror, as though he had seen a ghost. The horses were out of control.

The wagon had crushed our gentleman and had gone straight to the... yes, it can be said that the gentleman was crushed by his dream.

The people he greeted had come forward to help, for he was a gentleman who greeted everyone with a big, bright smile. Every day. They called a doctor.

The doctor was an old, clumsy man. He examined the crushed man. While he worked, he asked one of the bystanders to write down the victim's details.

After trying his best to save the man for some time, he rose from the ground and asked for the paper with the filled-in details. The man did as he was asked to.

Our crushed gentleman had a rather difficult name. It was hard to pronounce, and for the doctor, even harder.

The doctor asked, "How do you pronounce..."

The man replied, "You can pronounce him dead."

A grand wagon drawn by two horses, copper-rimmed wheels, a sumptuous sable hood, and silver horseshoes, was his dream.

He set out with his crutch, a sumptuous sable crutch it was. He greeted everyone he saw with a bright smile, walking like a gentleman as he neared his destination.

A sound of marching caught everyone's ears. A wagon pulled by two massive horses thundered toward him. The driver's face was white with terror, as though he had seen a ghost. The horses were out of control.

The wagon had crushed our gentleman and had gone straight to the... yes, it can be said that the gentleman was crushed by his dream.

The people he greeted had come forward to help, for he was a gentleman who greeted everyone with a big, bright smile. Every day. They called a doctor.

The doctor was an old, clumsy man. He examined the crushed man. While he worked, he asked one of the bystanders to write down the victim's details.

After trying his best to save the man for some time, he rose from the ground and asked for the paper with the filled-in details. The man did as he was asked to.

Our crushed gentleman had a rather difficult name. It was hard to pronounce, and for the doctor, even harder.

The doctor asked, "How do you pronounce..."

The man replied, "You can pronounce him dead."

A grand wagon drawn by two horses, copper-rimmed wheels, a sumptuous sable hood, and silver horseshoes, was his dream.

He set out with his crutch, a sumptuous sable crutch it was. He greeted everyone he saw with a bright smile, walking like a gentleman as he neared his destination.

A sound of marching caught everyone's ears. A wagon pulled by two massive horses thundered toward him. The driver's face was white with terror, as though he had seen a ghost. The horses were out of control.

The wagon had crushed our gentleman and had gone straight to the... yes, it can be said that the gentleman was crushed by his dream.

The people he greeted had come forward to help, for he was a gentleman who greeted everyone with a big, bright smile. Every day. They called a doctor.

The doctor was an old, clumsy man. He examined the crushed man. While he worked, he asked one of the bystanders to write down the victim's details.

After trying his best to save the man for some time, he rose from the ground and asked for the paper with the filled-in details. The man did as he was asked to.

Our crushed gentleman had a rather difficult name. It was hard to pronounce, and for the doctor, even harder.

The doctor asked, "How do you pronounce..."

The man replied, "You can pronounce him dead."

I am in a room... a dark room perhaps. But it is warm here, it feels good.

I looked around the room, which is quite large. There is a bed with a soft mattress. There is a television, a black and white one. There is food, almost everything I want.

I saw the door, and it was locked. A big golden lock guarded it. But I don't think I need to leave the room. I sat on the bed and started eating the grapes while watching television.

Days passed by. The room was perfect, but I started wondering what was on the other side of the door. So, I got up from the bed and started searching for the key, the golden key to the golden lock. I kept looking around until I found it.

It was in one of the corners of the room, shining brightly. Surprisingly, I didn't notice it before.

I took it and put it in the lock and unlocked it.

But... the door didn't open when I pushed it. So, I pushed harder, but it still didn't move even a little. It was like something was not letting me open the door. I tried even harder and kept going. This time, I did open a little, and I saw a colour, then multiple colours outside.

So, I pushed with all my might and strength. But it didn't open.

Then I thought I didn't need to go outside and went back to my bed.

I am in a room... a dark room perhaps. But it is warm here, it feels good.

I looked around the room, which is quite large. There is a bed with a soft mattress. There is a television, a black and white one. There is food, almost everything I want.

I saw the door, and it was locked. A big golden lock guarded it. But I don't think I need to leave the room. I sat on the bed and started eating the grapes while watching television.

Days passed by. The room was perfect, but I started wondering what was on the other side of the door. So, I got up from the bed and started searching for the key, the golden key to the golden lock. I kept looking around until I found it.

It was in one of the corners of the room, shining brightly. Surprisingly, I didn't notice it before.

I took it and put it in the lock and unlocked it.

But... the door didn't open when I pushed it. So, I pushed harder, but it still didn't move even a little. It was like something was not letting me open the door. I tried even harder and kept going. This time, I did open a little, and I saw a colour, then multiple colours outside.

So, I pushed with all my might and strength. But it didn't open.

Then I thought I didn't need to go outside and went back to my bed.

I am in a room... a dark room perhaps. But it is warm here, it feels good.

I looked around the room, which is quite a big room. There is a bed with a soft mattress. There is a television, a black and white one. There is food. Almost everything I want.

I saw the door, and it was locked. A big golden lock guarded it. But I don't think I need to leave the room. I sat on the bed and started eating the grapes while watching television.

Days passed by. The room was perfect, but I started wondering what was on the other side of the door. So, I got up from the bed and started searching for the key, the golden key to the golden lock. I kept looking around until I found it.

It was in one of the corners of the room, shining brightly. Surprisingly, I didn't notice it before.

I took it and put it in the lock and unlocked it.

But... the door didn't open when I pushed it. So, I pushed harder, but it still didn't move even a little. It was like something was not letting me open the door. I tried even harder and kept going. This time, I did open a little, and I saw a colour, then multiple colours outside.

So, I pushed with all my might and strength. But it didn't open.

Then I thought I didn't need to go outside and went back to my bed.

"Famous multi-millionaire pianist found dead in his mansion." He was found hanged.

Why would he take such a step?

Yes, he had everything. House, fame, success, money, everything.

I was listening to his all-time best pieces last night.

Hmm, "Full of life," one of the best pieces, if not the best.

I heard he was also writing a new piece, an album in fact.

Yes, I heard that too. It was called something like "The Coloured Vessel" or something.

I once had a chance to meet him personally. I also went to his mansion. Asked a few questions, he answered sincerely. Then we had a tour of the mansion. He was quite a collector. A huge collection of beautiful cups. A cup that particularly stood out to me was a red and green cup. It had golden spirals on it. He showed me almost everything.

At last, I saw a dust bin, a golden dust bin.

"Famous multi-millionaire pianist found dead in his mansion." He was found hanged.

Why would he take such a step?

Yes, he had everything. House, fame, success, money, everything.

I was listening to his all-time best pieces last night.

Hmm, "Full of life," one of the best pieces, if not the best.

I heard he was also writing a new piece, an album in fact.

Yes, I heard that too. It was called something like "The Coloured Vessel" or something.

I once had a chance to meet him personally. I also went to his mansion. Asked a few questions, he answered sincerely. Then we had a tour of the mansion. He was quite a collector. A huge collection of beautiful cups. A cup that particularly stood out to me was a red and green cup. It had golden spirals on it. He showed me almost everything.

At last, I saw a dust bin, a golden dust bin.

"Famous multi-millionaire pianist found dead in his mansion." He was found hanged.

Why would he take such a step?

Yes, he had everything. House, fame, success, money, everything.

I was listening to his all-time best pieces last night.

Hmm, "Full of life," one of the best pieces, if not the best.

I heard he was also writing a new piece, an album in fact.

Yes, I heard that too. It was called something like "The Coloured Vessel" or something.

I once had a chance to meet him personally. I also went to his mansion. Asked a few questions, he answered sincerely. Then we had a tour of the mansion. He was quite a collector. A huge collection of beautiful cups. A cup that particularly stood out to me was a red and green cup. It had golden spirals on it. He showed me almost everything.

At last, I saw a dust bin, a golden dust bin.

Now, there is one more remaining. The one to walk my dogans. I, the preserver, hereby command you and grant you to have a life, come to life, oh Carer, come to life.

What do you wish me to do for you, sir?

You shall take my dogans and walk them around the worlds, have their hearts filled with joy and their bellies with the sweetest sweet. Make their journey an unforgettable one. Now, go! Carer.

I shall fulfil my duty, sir. I shall find them the most beautiful world they have ever seen, the one that makes the moment freeze, make their eyes wide open. I shall find them the sweet that is sweeter than the divine grape. Now, I shall go.

You see the third world there? That is the world with the most grass. We shall go there too. Did you like this one?

"Yes, it was the most beautiful place," said the first dogan. "Yes, Carer, it was," repeated the other two.

Out there, there are even more beautiful ones, waiting... to be admired by you.

Here, have a sip. This is the divine water of Jal. The king of Jal, himself, has offered to you.

"It is a sweetness that demands an absolute stillness," said the second dagon. Agreed, the others.

"You, too, should feel the warmth and the sweetness of the divine water of Jal."

My duty is to offer you, not to have it myself.

"You should."

We may take a rest now. The grass is soft enough to feel like the royal bed in our motherland.

"Why are you standing still? You, too, may sleep here."

My duty, as my sir has commanded me, is to protect you and offer you, so I may stand still.

"But here, in the lands of the trunam, is safe. We don't need to be so defensive. You may sleep now."

As you say so.

This is Hīraka, the land of the diamonds. The shining from the castle of the king of Hīraka is enough to blind our eyes for eternity, but since we are under the protection of the king, we can witness the mesmerising Hīrakamani.

"The king has gifted the four manis to us and a megh mani for father."

You may now have the food that can satisfy the hunger of all the worlds with only its smell. The land of Bhoj. The king was generous enough to arrange the dining for you, as per your request.

"Yes, it really is the food that the lady Annam told us about, the food of Bhoj."

"We will never forget the taste of the food."

"The king here was the most generous king out of all the other kings; he arranged dining for you, too, Carer."

"You are not here just to fulfil your duty. You were granted to live by father."

"Yes, you, too, shall live your life."

... I shall... maybe...

We have arrived, Father. We have arrived from the walk. We saw the most beautiful Mani. We had the sweetest sweet. We slept on the grass that was as good as the royal bed. We had the food of eternity.

Yes, I can see the joy in your eyes. I can see the satisfaction in your heart. Carer has fulfilled his duty. Carer! Now, you shall return to the void, to the eternity from where I brought you.

But sir, I have to live.

You are not supposed to.

But sir, you granted me life. A life to live. A life worth living. I found my friends in the dagons. I found my companions in the dagons. I found a purpose to live. During the walk, dagons taught me how to live with their joy and enthusiasm. I shall live.

Yes, I granted you a life. But it was for the walk of the dagons. Now, I, who gave you life, take it from you. Now, go! Carer.

Now, there is one more remaining. The one to walk my dogans. I, the preserver, hereby command you and grant you to have a life, come to life, oh Carer, come to life.

What do you wish me to do for you, sir?

You shall take my dogans and walk them around the worlds, have their hearts filled with joy and their bellies with the sweetest sweet. Make their journey an unforgettable one. Now, go! Carer.

I shall fulfil my duty, sir. I shall find them the most beautiful world they have ever seen, the one that makes the moment freeze, make their eyes wide open. I shall find them the sweet that is sweeter than the divine grape. Now, I shall go.

You see the third world there? That is the world with the most grass. We shall go there too. Did you like this one?

"Yes, it was the most beautiful place," said the first dogan. "Yes, Carer, it was," repeated the other two.

Out there, there are even more beautiful ones, waiting... to be admired by you.

Here, have a sip. This is the divine water of Jal. The king of Jal, himself, has offered to you.

"It is a sweetness that demands an absolute stillness," said the second dagon. Agreed, the others.

"You, too, should feel the warmth and the sweetness of the divine water of Jal."

My duty is to offer you, not to have it myself.

"You should."

We may take a rest now. The grass is soft enough to feel like the royal bed in our motherland.

"Why are you standing still? You, too, may sleep here."

My duty, as my sir has commanded me, is to protect you and offer you, so I may stand still.

"But here, in the lands of the trunam, is safe. We don't need to be so defensive. You may sleep now."

As you say so.

This is Hīraka, the land of the diamonds. The shining from the castle of the king of Hīraka is enough to blind our eyes for eternity, but since we are under the protection of the king, we can witness the mesmerising Hīrakamani.

"The king has gifted the four manis to us and a megh mani for father."

You may now have the food that can satisfy the hunger of all the worlds with only its smell. The land of Bhoj. The king was generous enough to arrange the dining for you, as per your request.

"Yes, it really is the food that the lady Annam told us about, the food of Bhoj."

"We will never forget the taste of the food."

"The king here was the most generous king out of all the other kings; he arranged dining for you, too, Carer."

"You are not here just to fulfil your duty. You were granted to live by father."

"Yes, you, too, shall live your life."

... I shall... maybe...

We have arrived, Father. We have arrived from the walk. We saw the most beautiful Mani. We had the sweetest sweet. We slept on the grass that was as good as the royal bed. We had the food of eternity.

Yes, I can see the joy in your eyes. I can see the satisfaction in your heart. Carer has fulfilled his duty. Carer! Now, you shall return to the void, to the eternity from where I brought you.

But sir, I have to live.

You are not supposed to.

But sir, you granted me life. A life to live. A life worth living. I found my friends in the dagons. I found my companions in the dagons. I found a purpose to live. During the walk, dagons taught me how to live with their joy and enthusiasm. I shall live.

Yes, I granted you a life. But it was for the walk of the dagons. Now, I, who gave you life, take it from you. Now, go! Carer.

Now, there is one more remaining. The one to walk my dogans. I, the preserver, hereby command you and grant you to have a life, come to life, oh Carer, come to life.

What do you wish me to do for you, sir?

You shall take my dogans and walk them around the worlds, have their hearts filled with joy and their bellies with the sweetest sweet. Make their journey an unforgettable one. Now, go! Carer.

I shall fulfil my duty, sir. I shall find them the most beautiful world they have ever seen, the one that makes the moment freeze, make their eyes wide open. I shall find them the sweet that is sweeter than the divine grape. Now, I shall go.

You see the third world there? That is the world with the most grass. We shall go there too. Did you like this one?

"Yes, it was the most beautiful place," said the first dogan. "Yes, Carer, it was," repeated the other two.

Out there, there are even more beautiful ones, waiting... to be admired by you.

Here, have a sip. This is the divine water of Jal. The king of Jal, himself, has offered to you.

"It is a sweetness that demands an absolute stillness," said the second dagon. Agreed, the others.

"You, too, should feel the warmth and the sweetness of the divine water of Jal."

My duty is to offer you, not to have it myself.

"You should."

We may take a rest now. The grass is soft enough to feel like the royal bed in our motherland.

"Why are you standing still? You, too, may sleep here."

My duty, as my sir has commanded me, is to protect you and offer you, so I may stand still.

"But here, in the lands of the trunam, is safe. We don't need to be so defensive. You may sleep now."

As you say so.

This is Hīraka, the land of the diamonds. The shining from the castle of the king of Hīraka is enough to blind our eyes for eternity, but since we are under the protection of the king, we can witness the mesmerising Hīrakamani.

"The king has gifted the four manis to us and a megh mani for father."

You may now have the food that can satisfy the hunger of all the worlds with only its smell. The land of Bhoj. The king was generous enough to arrange the dining for you, as per your request.

"Yes, it really is the food that the lady Annam told us about, the food of Bhoj."

"We will never forget the taste of the food."

"The king here was the most generous king out of all the other kings; he arranged dining for you, too, Carer."

"You are not here just to fulfil your duty. You were granted to live by father."

"Yes, you, too, shall live your life."

... I shall... maybe...

We have arrived, Father. We have arrived from the walk. We saw the most beautiful Mani. We had the sweetest sweet. We slept on the grass that was as good as the royal bed. We had the food of eternity.

Yes, I can see the joy in your eyes. I can see the satisfaction in your heart. Carer has fulfilled his duty. Carer! Now, you shall return to the void, to the eternity from where I brought you.

But sir, I have to live.

You are not supposed to.

But sir, you granted me life. A life to live. A life worth living. I found my friends in the dagons. I found my companions in the dagons. I found a purpose to live. During the walk, dagons taught me how to live with their joy and enthusiasm. I shall live.

Yes, I granted you a life. But it was for the walk of the dagons. Now, I, who gave you life, take it from you. Now, go! Carer.

Now, there is one more remaining. The one to walk my dogans. I, the preserver, hereby command you and grant you to have a life, come to life, oh Carer, come to life.

What do you wish me to do for you, sir?

You shall take my dogans and walk them around the worlds, have their hearts filled with joy and their bellies with the sweetest sweet. Make their journey an unforgettable one. Now, go! Carer.

I shall fulfil my duty, sir. I shall find them the most beautiful world they have ever seen, the one that makes the moment freeze, make their eyes wide open. I shall find them the sweet that is sweeter than the divine grape. Now, I shall go.

You see the third world there? That is the world with the most grass. We shall go there too. Did you like this one?

"Yes, it was the most beautiful place," said the first dogan. "Yes, Carer, it was," repeated the other two.

Out there, there are even more beautiful ones, waiting... to be admired by you.

Here, have a sip. This is the divine water of Jal. The king of Jal, himself, has offered to you.

"It is a sweetness that demands an absolute stillness," said the second dagon. Agreed, the others.

"You, too, should feel the warmth and the sweetness of the divine water of Jal."

My duty is to offer you, not to have it myself.

"You should."

We may take a rest now. The grass is soft enough to feel like the royal bed in our motherland.

"Why are you standing still? You, too, may sleep here."

My duty, as my sir has commanded me, is to protect you and offer you, so I may stand still.

"But here, in the lands of the trunam, is safe. We don't need to be so defensive. You may sleep now."

As you say so.

This is Hīraka, the land of the diamonds. The shining from the castle of the king of Hīraka is enough to blind our eyes for eternity, but since we are under the protection of the king, we can witness the mesmerising Hīrakamani.

"The king has gifted the four manis to us and a megh mani for father."

You may now have the food that can satisfy the hunger of all the worlds with only its smell. The land of Bhoj. The king was generous enough to arrange the dining for you, as per your request.

"Yes, it really is the food that the lady Annam told us about, the food of Bhoj."

"We will never forget the taste of the food."

"The king here was the most generous king out of all the other kings; he arranged dining for you, too, Carer."

"You are not here just to fulfil your duty. You were granted to live by father."

"Yes, you, too, shall live your life."

... I shall... maybe...

We have arrived, Father. We have arrived from the walk. We saw the most beautiful Mani. We had the sweetest sweet. We slept on the grass that was as good as the royal bed. We had the food of eternity.

Yes, I can see the joy in your eyes. I can see the satisfaction in your heart. Carer has fulfilled his duty. Carer! Now, you shall return to the void, to the eternity from where I brought you.

But sir, I have to live.

You are not supposed to.

But sir, you granted me life. A life to live. A life worth living. I found my friends in the dagons. I found my companions in the dagons. I found a purpose to live. During the walk, dagons taught me how to live with their joy and enthusiasm. I shall live.

Yes, I granted you a life. But it was for the walk of the dagons. Now, I, who gave you life, take it from you. Now, go! Carer.

His leg slipped due to water on the floor. The leg moved forward, and the body fell backwards. His body knew how to correct itself within milliseconds.

But he had to understand the process; there should be no black box. One must not let something simply happen, was his philosophy.

So he analysed the situation. His leg was too far ahead. To counter it, he had to shift his body forward. He focused on his falling upper body instead. First, the head forward, then...

He fell.

His leg slipped due to water on the floor. The leg moved forward, and the body fell backwards. His body knew how to correct itself within milliseconds.

But he had to understand the process; there should be no black box. One must not let something simply happen, was his philosophy.

So he analysed the situation. His leg was too far ahead. To counter it, he had to shift his body forward. He focused on his falling upper body instead. First, the head forward, then...

He fell.

He sat in his garden, on the soft green grass, staring at a beautiful flower he had just broken. A crack appeared in the glass eye. He kept looking; the crack widened.

A thorn had grown so large that it covered half the window. He looked at it and kept looking. The crack deepened.

He stood, took the thorn cutter, and began trimming. The edges were jagged, uneven. The crack receded slightly.

He picked up the broken flower, looked at it with a faint smile, and tossed it aside. The crack vanished completely.

I tried many times to meet her, but whenever I came face-to-face with her, I was too scared to say anything. But I tried again and again.

One day, she came to me and looked into my eyes. I was terrified; shivers ran all over my body. She said to me, “Let’s go.” I couldn’t refuse, so I went with her.

Then I heard someone calling me, so I looked back.

I saw a baby far away. He crawled toward me, then began to run, stumbling as he moved. As he came closer, he was a grown boy running faster, a book in his right hand, a pen, and a guitar hanging on his back... no, it was a heavy bag. Then I saw a man in a blue shirt and black trousers, his shirt tucked in but slightly loose, with a bag slung over his left shoulder.

As he came even closer, I saw a middle-aged man who looked exactly like me. He stretched out his hand toward me… and I did the same. As our hands touched, he disappeared.

People were crying and sobbing; they were calling me back. But I couldn’t go.

I felt a pull and looked forward, I saw... nothing.