Where Sanity Ends

Chapter 2

My soul is heavy, burdened deep,
With memories that make me weep,
Of days gone by, of love and loss,
Of dreams that died, of endless cost.

The euphoria that once enveloped Violet was now nothing but a fleeting memory, a distant echo of what she had felt when she had booked her spot at the rejuvenation centre. She had thought that it would be the solution to all her problems, the magic wand that would transform her life into a beautiful symphony of joy and happiness. But it had all been for naught.

The depression and emptiness that had plagued her for years had returned with a vengeance, and she found herself once again drowning in a sea of regret and resentment. She was consumed by the bitter realisation that her life had become a mess, a tangled web of shattered dreams and unfulfilled ambitions.

Despite her best efforts, she could not cast off the weight of her past, the memories that haunted her every waking moment. She was trapped in a cycle of hopelessness and despair. Unable to break free from the compulsive patterns that had come to define her existence.

As Violet wandered through the crowded aisles, the fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow over everything, she felt a sense of isolation wash over her. The shelves were stocked to the brim with all manner of supplies, from food to medicine, from clothing to toiletries. Despite the abundance of goods, she felt a deep sense of emptiness.

The thought of embarking on this journey alone was daunting, a prospect that filled her with equal parts of excitement and dread. She had always been fiercely independent, a lone wolf that didn't rely on anyone else. But now, as she stood amidst the bustle of the store, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret – a pang of longing for the connection she so desperately craved.

The people around her seemed distant and uncaring, their faces obscured by the masks they wore. She tried to reach out, to make a connection, but it seemed like nobody cared. The weight of her loneliness was suffocating, like a leaden blanket that pressed down upon her.

She wandered through the aisles, only picking out the essentials. The process was slow and tedious, each item a reminder of the solitude that awaited her. She thought about how alone she felt, how she had no family to turn to, no close friends to confide in.

She had tried reaching out for help, but it seemed like nobody cared. She felt like a burden to everyone around her, a layer that they were eager to shed.

***

Violet leaned back into the plush leather seats of the cab, her thoughts consumed by the idea of finding solace at Eden's Retreat. The cab driver, a middle-aged man with a weathered face and a thick accent, glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

"You okay, miss?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Violet hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She had always been guarded about her emotions, but there was something about the driver's genuine concern that made her want to open up.

"I'm just… struggling," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

The driver nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I understand. Life can be tough sometimes."

Violet smiled weakly, grateful for the driver's understanding. She turned her attention back to her phone, scrolling through the details of the rejuvenation centre. She was struck by the sheer number of glowing reviews, all of them praising the centre's transformative power.

"90% success rate, huh?" she muttered to herself, her scepticism beginning to fade. "That's a pretty impressive claim."

As the cab wound its way through the city streets, Violet's thoughts turned towards the future. She imagined a life free from the crushing weight of depression, a life where she could be happy and content. The idea was intoxicating, and she found herself becoming more and more eager to give Eden's Retreat a try.