Escape From Reality

The Escape

I feel like I could live like this forever.

I don't know when it started raining and I don't really care because I'm lost in a daze, making possibilities happen the entire time. I'm running around the enormous living room, fire bursting from my hands, and I'm laughing because it feels so good to be alive. Fireworks explode inside the house and I shriek at the noise, a beautiful mirage of colours lighting up the whole room.

At some point I end up lying on the couch and watch as stars I made into existence twinkle above me on the ceiling. My body felt so light it was almost as if a huge weight was taken off it and now I was free to do whatever I wanted. Long gone was the cynical Chloe who laid afraid of her every move and now here I was, a happier Chloe who dared to dream.

I heard a distant loud banging on the door but still I laid there on the couch, knowing I was safe here in my haven, whatever monster that was out there was surely not able to come in, so I dutifully ignored it and focused on the warm happy feeling that coursed through my veins. I breathed as it flowed through me, the warm blanketing feeling of joy and hope all at once.

I didn't want to wake up and face the terrible thing that awaited me in reality. Whenever I tried to think back to it all, to my dad and his work, to the wannabe queen bee who endlessly tormented me, their faces slowly got blurrier, fading away from my mind's eye. Good, I thought, let those memories wash away while I stay here in this realm of endless possibilities.

The thudding got even louder as I rolled over and groaned. I really did not want to get up and answer the door.

So don't. A little voice in my head told me and I agreed, smiling while I conjured up a pillow to cover my ears. I won't listen to whatever thing is pouncing outside.

I rest and close my eyes.

When I opened them again it seemed no time had passed. I was still here in my dream, dressed in a billowing white dress and a crown upon my head. And still I heard the pitter patter sounds of rain outside and the thudding from previously had stopped. Had I slept in my dream? I laughed as I thought of the irony of it.

Pushing myself up, I walked over to the windows to watch the pouring rain. It was dark outside and the rainfall was so heavy I could barely see anything. I wondered if my knight would come to join me here. I think back to him and smile, of all the happy times we spent together. I wanted to share the fantasy I had made for myself with him.

Realising I never fully explored the house, I turned around and decided to head up the stairs to see whatever awaited me upstairs. The stairs creaked as I walked upstairs and when I reached the top, did I come face to face with a long corridor filled with doors.

Slowly I reached towards one door, wondering what secrets buried deep below laid inside, and I gently pushed it open only to hear the sounds of a school bell ringing, and laughter coming from the other side. From the door I watched as my old friend group gathered around the table in the second row, two seats away from the teacher. My old seat at my old school , I realised with a start, and there past Chloe sat, laughing along with my friends.

This memory, something of a reminiscent past, stirs up something inside me and I watch motionless as it plays out.

"I wonder if Mr Turner will allow us to be in the same group for the excursion to the zoo." I heard Penny say as she leaned against the desk in front as our classmates filed out of the door.

"I don't think so. Remember what happened last time?" Milan added as I watched past Chloe let out a snort the same time I did. The three of us had ended up getting lost in the museum resulting in mass panic when the teachers realised we were missing, and with our collective no sense of direction, we also somehow ended up in the shopping mall next door where we were found.

"I was hoping Mr Turner might have forgotten about that," Penny said as she sheepishly laughed.

"It doesn't matter, you two." I hear myself say as she gets up and swings her bag over her shoulder ,"We can still hang out some other time."

"Yeah I guess." Milan shrugs,"Friends always?"

"Forever."

I close the door as I feel my lips curling and my eyes tearing. I had forgotten about that. How we promised to be friends no matter the circumstances. But after my mother died, I withdrew and pushed them aside in my grief. And since we moved, I never spoke to them again.

It's okay now though, I thought. I'm safe here in my dreams. And I probably will never see them again.

The white corridor glowed as my dress swirled around my knees. Taking a deep breath, I wondered if I should continue to watch these memories. I had entered the house to escape from the painful thoughts echoing around my head. I had no desire to relieve some of my memories again.

But curiosity got the better of me, as I wondered what secrets lie within these walls.And I wonder if I open one, I might be able to see my mother again. This gives my heart a little burst of excitement at the thought of finally seeing her again. Of the possibility of even interacting with her.

Breathing in deeply, I opened the next door, hoping against hope

This was not my memory. I hear myself thinking as I watch the corridor of an unfamiliar school, and like previously, hear the shrill ring of the school bell.

Students filed out into the corridor, heading to their lockers to go get their books for their next class. I step inside, and squeeze amongst the herd of students as they walk about. I feel my white dress change to a regular shirt and shorts and suddenly I'm one of the students in this memory. I looked around the crowded corridor until I spotted a black haired kid, and my heart skipped a beat.

Jacob. This was Jacob's memory. I watch as a group of boys make their way over to Jacob's younger self, stuffing books into his locker.

"Um hey Jacob." One of the boys said, as Jacob turned around.

"Hey."He said.

"How are you doing? Do you want to talk about it? I heard what happened."

"What do you mean you heard what happened?"Jacob's voice suddenly raised an octave, making me slightly flinch as I pushed past the students to try to get closer to the scene.

"It's been um going around school." The boy said.

"Well I don't need your pity." Jacob snapped and walked away, while the boy sighs in his place.

"Stupid Mr Jeffson. Jacob clearly doesn't need any help." The boy says as he turns back to the group. In the front I can see Jacob's face grow red and eyes grow teary.

"Just pretend you're on a spaceship now, flying faraway.As if your whole life isn't falling apart right now. " I hear Jacob mutter as his eyes slowly gazes over as he slowly walks past me.

Suddenly everything freezes, and I panic. I run towards the door and out of the memory, pushing past all the now frozen people.Once I step out of the frame, everything begins moving again and I feel my clothes change back to my white dress.

I stood there for a few moments, breathing deeply as I tried to process what I just saw. The pity that I had been engulfed with after my mother's death seemed strikingly similar to what Jacob too had endured. I realise even though it didn't seem like it, Jacob too wasn't that different from me. We had gone through similar things, but just coped in different ways.

A sudden crash from downstairs startles me and I jump from my spot. I spin and run down the stairs ,wondering what had happened, before I feel a grin creeping on my face.

There stood a boy wearing a grey shirt and black pants, eyes looking around in amazement. I couldn't believe my eyes. It's Jacob.

My knight has arrived.