Lost & Found

Chapter 2

"Here we are," the driver said, pressing on the brakes. He'd stopped right when the counter halted at $20, as promised.

I hadn't been looking out the window during the ride in fear I'd ruin the surprise. With the amount I've given him, he couldn't go far. Surely he's brought me to a familiar place. My goal was simply to stray from the wedding venue's whereabouts. I didn't expect to be taken to a magical place.

"Thank you," I told him.

Before I could open the door, my eyes widen at the sight awaiting me. Greenery all around a lake with water so clear you could see the sky by looking down.

"What is this place?" I asked, having never seen it before.

"This is the lake Illusio. It goes till the next town. Legends say your deepest desires are revealed when staring at the water. I'm not sure if that's true, I haven't had the opportunity to try," the driver went on while I lost myself in the scenery. "I'm not sure what's your situation is, but this place is great to clear your mind," he said, concluding.

I gave him a nod to show I agree with his idea. Sure, time is of the essence when my goal is to run away, but who would suspect I'd stop by a lake for a breather? And who knows what I'll face there? The world can take any form to guide me.

The sound of the taxi driving away in the back of my head, I walk closer to the lake. The water calls me, and I don't hesitate to jump in. After having run away from my own wedding, nothing seems too crazy. Besides, on a summer day where the sun burns your skin away, this doesn't feel wrong. The cool water takes over my skin and lifts off the weight I'd been carrying all my life.

When I resurfaced, the skirt of my dress floated and surrounded me like a frilled-neck lizard's collar. I rubbed my face away in hopes of erasing the hideous mask painted on me. I'm glad for my cousin's lack of sense. She didn't apply waterproof makeup, seeing the products are smudged on my hands. Now it'll just be that easier to get around without grabbing attention. Of course, the dress is still a problem. Nothing a pair of scissors can't manoeuvre, though. With ease, I'll turn a wedding dress into a summer one.

Swimming further, I start to see houses belonging to another town. I've never been anywhere really and can't seem to recognize the place. Could my breath handle the temptation I have to swim all the way there?

Remembering my bag laid on the grass, I could not give in to temptation and swam back. Immediately, I grabbed the scissors and began cutting away until the dress reached my knees. I left the rest of my dress to dry on the grass, thinking it could be of use.

As I wait for my clothes and myself to dry, I take out my digital camera and ready it to capture the scenery. All these years, what kept me at peace was observing pictures of places I could never travel to. Wanting to take pictures myself, I bought an old digital camera from a thrift store and had the time of my life capturing all my surroundings. They once had been dull and repetitive, but gained an entirely new charm under the lense of a camera.

I click on the shutter and take in the clear lake and houses in the distance. Wanting to have a close look at the unknown, I zoom in until I can only see the houses. Alongside, I find tall trees surpassing the houses by twice their length. When I press on the shutter, a message appears on the screen indicating the memory's run out. Indeed, I've taken a lot of photos on this device. Though I'm not hesitant to erase most pictures and make place for new ones. Those pictures brought me peace in an environment that caused me nothing but pain. Now, I want to detach. I've gone as far as running away. What can't I do? To see those images will only remind me of a living hell. I'll solely capture paradisiac settings from this day on. That's a promise I'm making with myself.

As a result, I search in the settings for an option to delete everything. The picture I just took of the lake can be taken again. Once done, I zoom in once more and focus on the houses–particularly on a house with an olive green roof. See, my favourite colour is green. The more I look at those houses, the more I feel called to that town. Just as I was called to jump in the water, I am called to settle there. At least for a while.