I see a girl standing between an entrance to two different places. A dark place and a bright place
I feel the young girl is saying goodbye to the dark and heading into a brighter place.
Annette felt herself falling freely, she flailed her arms looking for something to hold on to, but she couldn't feel anything. The surrounding air was thick, rancid and choking, whatever it was that she had fallen into began to twirl faster and faster. Annette felt herself screaming, but words were unable to come out of her mouth.
Finally, she landed in a messy heap on the floor, she stood dusted her clothes and tried to smoothen her hair. Touching her face, she realized it was wet, What is going on, she thought to herself. Annette Goldwenger had not shed tears since she was 15 and had lost her parents in a car accident.
“Hello! Hey! Is anyone here?” she screamed, but all she got as a reply was an eerie kind of silence.
“Oh great, I got my voice back” she gasped excitedly
"Looking around her, she realized just how dark this place was and there was that horrible smell. It seemed she was the only one here, and she didn't like this place one bit.
“I've got to get out of…whatever this is” she said to herself, beginning to feel a little scared.
She moved forward slowly, arms outstretched in front of her, barely able to see where she was going. Bumping into a wall, she hissed in pain then turned around and tried the other direction, but it seemed the wall was all around her. She was trapped!
Her breath became shaky, she clutched her chest in fear, horrible thoughts flashing through her mind. Was she dead? Was she in a coma? Why was she even here?
“Well, the answer to your question will be supplied in a minute. As soon as I find a light” A chirpy voice spoke.
“Arrrrrgggghhhhh! ”Annette screamed and jumped, looking around her for the owner of the voice.
“Stop screaming it's me” the voice said again behind her, flashing a light.
Annette screamed again and jumped a mile when she turned and saw who was in front of her. Somehow, her 15-year-old self was talking to her 38-year-old self.
“How is this possible, what's going on” Annette questioned
“You're not dead, you're not in a coma, and this is your heart or should we say your soul” 15-year-old Annette replied”.
“You're joking, right? If I'm not dead or in a coma, how am I inside my soul?” Annette screamed.
“The question should be, what is the purpose of you being here? Why is your heart so dark, in shambles and rotting?” her younger self patiently replied, twirling around and smiling.
“Hmm, great question. Hey, is this weird for you? Cos this whole thing is freaking me out Ann….what am I supposed to call you because you're obviously not me” Annette cried out in frustration.
Laughing younger Annette said “I am you, the happier, kind-hearted you, don't you remember? Follow me” she said, tapping the wall with her palm”.
With eyes as wide as saucers and an open mouth, Annette watched the wall part to reveal an unkempt garden full of thorns and weeds. The soil was very dark and all the flowers were dying. She gasped in shock as she realized part of it was rotting away.
As they walked through the garden slowly, scenes of Annette's life flashed by. She watched in shock as she realized just how horrible she had turned out. She had allowed her hurt and anger turn her into the monster that was flashing right before her eyes.
Annette was an only child who had lost both parents at the age of fifteen. Her parents had been rich, but upon their death, her relations had shipped her off to an orphanage home and squandered her inheritance. She had always doubted the legitimacy of the orphanage, it was more like a dumping ground for unwanted kids.
There were many bullies, little food and not enough space as no one visited or adopted any of the kids there. She’d had to toughen up and as she grew up in that environment, the hate and anger in her heart for people increased. She had escaped and ended up staying with another family. The wife was a sweet soul, but she was constantly abused by the husband.
The only good thing was the free education and a place to sleep and eat. She left immediately she turned 18, did all sorts of jobs, saved up money and got into the university. She had excelled in school, graduated top of her class, gotten a great job, money, and power. Not only that, but she had used her power in a bad way, and she didn't care, but somehow this place was making her realize how bad she'd gotten.
She cringed as the image of her late assistant flashed by. She had body-shamed the poor woman into depression and anxiety. The lady had overdosed on her drugs and died and Annette hadn't gone to the funeral, she remembered her exact words when another employee had come to inform her of the tragedy.
“I won't be attending the funeral of anyone stupid enough to eat herself to death. How could she have been so foolish to overdose on prescribed drugs, I always knew she was dumb!”
Her employee had stood there shocked, well, she had also resigned the next day.
So many scenes flashed past… When she had walked by Mrs. Stetson outside the grocery store, even after the old woman had pleaded with her to take her to the hospital because she was feeling chest pains. Of course, it was a heart attack and the woman died outside the grocery store.
She had fired her staff for the slightest mistakes, blackmailed other companies just to get contracts, filled the bowl outside her house with pins instead of chocolate on Halloween day…
“Enough please, I've seen enough” Annette broke down in heart-wrenching sobs. “I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, please”.
“It's okay” younger Annette consoled her, “at least you're sorry. You were brought here to see the error of your ways, and I am glad it worked. You have upset numerous people, both living and dead”.
“I realize that now” Annette sniffed, tears pouring down her face, “I've been more terrible than a monster”
“Come with me” younger Annette said smiling.
Taking her outstretched arm, they both waked together. Annette gasped at the sight in front of her. It was another entrance that led to a beautiful place, full of life and flowers, thriving and vibrant.
The sight brought fresh tears to her eyes
“Where are we?” she asked
“Your new soul, you have a second chance to make things right. Just promise to change your ways, forgive and keep your heart pure” younger Annette replied.
“I promise, and I won't fail, I am not getting any younger after all” Annette said smiling as they walked into the garden.
Younger Annette picked up a small pebble and handed It to her, saying, “Take this as a reminder. Also focus on the good memories of your younger days and your parents. It will help you heal”.
Accepting the stone, Annette clutched it to her chest. Together, they moved to the pavement separating the two gardens. As they stood there, Annette felt a calm wind move around her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, Annette felt herself floating and just before the twirling began her younger self called out to her.
“Remember to be good!”
Annette woke with a start, gasping for breath and drenched in sweat. Her hair and skin were clammy, and she was shaking.
“It was a dream, I'm not dead” she said to herself.
As she reached for her phone, she realized there was something in her palm. Opening it she realized she was holding the pebble.
“Oh my God!” she whispered in shock, “I'm not dead, but it wasn't a dream”
Just then, the alarm clock beside her bed went off. It was a new dawn, a new day. Holding the pebble tightly, Annette knelt down and burst into tears.
“Thank you, thank you” she whispered over and over again. She was grateful for the second chance, and she would definitely change for good.
She stood up, drew the curtains, inhaled the fresh air and smiled as she watched the sun rise, still holding on to her pebble.
