The Land Lost to Time

That one fateful day...

Have you ever felt like you are stuck in time? Frozen in place while the rest of the world continues
moves forward? Welcome, to my world. I live in a small, secluded village on the edge of cliff
overlooking the ocean. The cliffs have hundreds of legends and folk tales surrounding them, some
say that there are caves that lead to a place untouched by humans and full of mythical creatures.
Aside from that it is a beautiful view, you can feel the saltwater spray hit your face like a summer
shower. The town is surrounded by a forest that is so old and overgrown that it serves as a
protective border. The forest is dense and looks perilous at night no one dares travel through unless
they believe their cause is worthy. Well, that is how our elders see it and so did my mother. The
elders are the elderly that live in the town, the younger kids like to say that they have been around
since the village was first founded. My mother went in the forest and never returned, so all I see is a
barrier that keeps us locked away from the rest of the world. Today is my 18th birthday. I should be
excited, but I am not. I find it hard to be excited about anything anymore, it is like my life has turned
black and white and the colour is never returning, despite how many sunny days I see. My father and
I had a rocky relationship while my mother was still alive, now that she is gone, I am not sure if
things will be better or worse. This morning I received a letter. This letter has been in the family for
generations. The youngest daughter opens the letter on her 18th birthday and guards the secrets of
its contents for the rest of her life. When I was little, I dreamed about reading the letter, now I feel
like the letter that curses each generation it reaches out to. The letter is rewritten by the last
recipient then handed down; this is the only thing I have left of my mother. Just add it to the list of
obstacles keeping me locked in this village. After my mother died my father has been depressed and
reserved, and I feel if I leave it may be the straw that broke the camel’s back. As much as my father
and I have been distant he is still my father and I love him. I will stay in this horrid place until my
father can cope with me leaving as well. No matter how long it takes.
***
I do not believe it. My whole life has been a lie, it is like my whole reality is an alternate universe.
The letter in my hand feels ice cold, and my heart feels heavy. I read the letter and hope begins to
rise from my almost broken heart, there is a chance that my mother was still alive. The message I
held in both my hands and my heart, says that I am a Fae princess and that my mother was the
queen. I will not believe that I am some sought of princess and I am not getting my hopes up that my
mother could still be alive. Not again. So, I do the only rational thing I can. I asked my father.
“Hey dad, can…can we talk?” I called out with a slight hitch in my voice.
My father replied with a concerned look upon his face, “Of course, Evelyn, sit down. Do you want
something to drink?”
The relationship between my father and I have been strained at best, since mum died. There was
one thing enjoyed together no matter what. I answered his question with excitement bubbling
within me, “Are you offering one of your famous hot chocolates?”
He chuckled at me and turned to go to the kitchen to start preparing his mouth-watering cocoas. I
started preparing in my head how I can explain my predicament without revealing the family secret.
If this was my mother’s last wish, to keep this generations old secret. The more I thought about it
the more my heart started intensely hammering against chest, like an earthquake ricocheting across my body. In my heart I promised I would never leave, but I cannot stand the suffocating air within
my home. In a panicked fever, I bolted, swinging open the door, loud enough to alert my father of
my leaving. Only sparing a second glance at the door left wide open, I see my father, standing there
holding two mugs full of his home-made delight, one of which was my favourite, he looked at me
with a look of anguish and betrayal on his face. There was another emotion that clouded his eyes,
one I never thought I would see in a situation such as this. Understanding. You know how they say
the eyes are the key to the soul, in this moment I understood what they meant. Tears started to
cloud my eyes, as I began to feel a tug at the back of my mind almost dragging me towards the place,
I swore I would never step foot in. The ancient forest.
***
I ran straight into the dreaded forest, droplets slowly creeping down my face. I only stopped running
when the sun was setting on the horizon, in mesmerizing hues of reds, yellows and slowly fading into
rich purples and deep blues. I continued my journey until my entire body ached and burned with the
effort of moving. I slumped against a tree as I tried to control my heaving and ragged breaths, the
world spinning around me. I scanned the area around for any sign of the direction in which I had
come from. After a while I sighed and gave up hope in finding my back before dark. My mind
shuddered at the thought of having to stay the night in this woodland and let a heart ached sob from
deep within. I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head against my knees as my body was
racked with wails and sobs of distress and grief. The grief of leaving my father and everything I have
ever known. The distress of being in place filled with such pain and misery. My figure shook with
both fear and the unforgiving cold that seemed to wrap around me and seep into my bones. Fear
began to creep its way into my mind as I heard howls in the distance, crickets in the background,
there was a rustling in a bush not too far from me. There was a feeling of something staring at me,
beady eyes boring holes into my very being. Opening my eyes after blinking the tears away began to
become increasingly difficult. I looked at my surroundings one last time before I passed out,
welcoming the warm embrace the darkness offered.
...................................................................................Author's Note:
Hey everyone! This is my first Real story. I hope you enjoy, please let me know where I can improve and what you enjoy!

Miss_Moo