The Universe Beyond Ours

Chapter 3 (Part 2)

     In the secluded laundry shed behind the bustling household, Michaela diligently tends to the daily chore of laundry. It is a task that wearies her with its ceaseless demands. Retrieving the soiled garments from the basket, she methodically transfers them into the waiting maw of the washing machine, measuring out and adding the necessary laundry detergent. As the machine rumbles to life, its mechanical symphony filling the shed, a sudden creak shatters the ambient hum. Startled, Michaela turns towards the source of the sound, her gaze falling upon the door as it swings open to reveal Denis, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Mom..." Denis stammered.

"What is it?" Michaela asked. Despite noticing Denis' face, she still managed to stay calm.

"I... I—" Denis faltered, struggling to articulate his overwhelming emotions. "I'm just so fed up! This world sucks! I want a reality where things are different, where I belong. This place is a cesspool of crap! Online, it's a mess! Hate attracts attention while genuine efforts go unnoticed! It's maddening!" His voice rises, frustration and despair mingling in a crescendo of emotion as tears betray his inner turmoil.

"Denis," Michaela sighed heavily, her heart heavy with concern for her son.

"I can't bear this any longer! Years have slipped by, yet I'm no closer to my goals! Where are my milestones!? It feels like I'm trapped in a living nightmare!" Denis' voice strained with frustration.

"But Denis..." Michaela attempted to speak, but Denis' cries drowned out her voice.

"This world, this universe—it's against me! If only we could choose the reality we enter, I'd choose for a different existence!" Denis' tone turned sharp with defiance.

Worry etched deep lines on Michaela's brow. "Denis," she interjected softly. "Patience. Is. Everything..."

"...I've worked day and night since twenty-eighteen. Three long years have passed without a glimmer of success. It's as if my efforts are in vain..." Denis' voice wavered.

"...Maybe you should take a break if you need to," Michaela suggested, lowering her gaze.

     Misinterpreting his mother's well-intentioned suggestion, Denis is overcome with a sense of desolation, believing she is urging him to abandon his beloved pursuit. With a heavy heart, he retreats from the laundry shed into the solitude of his bedroom. Alone in the dimly lit room, he lies on his bed, his quiet sniffling the only sound that breaks the silence. Glancing at his phone, he navigates to his posts, each one met with dishearteningly low engagement—a reflection of his current state of mind.

     Meanwhile, in another corner of the house, Michaela confides in Robert about Denis' emotional turmoil. The couple convenes in the serene expanse of the living room, their shared concern knitting them together in a moment of quiet solidarity. In the soft glow of the room, their voices carry in hushed tones

"Robert, I'm extremely worried about Denis," Michaela confessed. "All I want is to see our son find a moment of happiness, even if just for a day... But I fear I may have made things worse."

"Michaela, you're doing what's best for our son. You're a good mother, and, surely, Denis thinks the same," Robert reassured her. He then took a deep breath and released a quivering sigh. "Ella, I think we should stop the Hilot for Denis and go to a real medical professional," Robert said.

"It's about time you realize," Michaela replied with a stiff, monotonous voice.

     A few days drift by, the sun regaining its strength as it climbs to the zenith of the sky. Michaela and Robert, resolute in their determination to help Denis, escort him to a psychiatrist for a crucial consultation. Stepping into the office, they are greeted by Dr Lim, a man in his forties with unassuming features—short, black hair and skin reminiscent of ripe wheat, their expressions shrouded by the necessary masks against the persistent threat of the pandemic.

"So, how're you feeling? Can you describe how your life is?" Dr Lim, the psychiatrist, asked kindly.

     Denis meets the psychiatrist's gaze as a flicker of resolve ignites within him. This is Denis' moment—a chance to articulate the depths of his emotions. With courage coursing through his veins, he unfurls his narrative, laying bare the hues of his inner world, sharing the shades of grey that have coloured his existence.

     Following the session, Michaela and Robert engage in a private conversation with Dr Lim behind closed doors, their voices muffled yet carrying snippets of concern and reassurance that drift to Denis in the waiting room. Later, within the confines of the car, Denis inspects the prescription in his hands as his father navigates the streets. Pulling up at a pharmacy, Robert alights to buy the necessary medications, leaving Denis and Michaela enveloped in a cocoon of conversation.

"Denis... I want you to understand that life is undeniably challenging," Michaela began, her voice tinged with a blend of empathy and wisdom. "Each of us carries our unique stories—yours, mine, and those of countless others. While our paths may diverge, there is a common thread that binds us all: the trials we endure," she mused. "You see, I, too, embarked on a personal odyssey early in life. I was just a young girl weathering numerous tribulations on a humble farm... I was a mere peasant in the grand scheme of things, despite our wealth in land," she chuckled softly. "Yet, I fought to complete my academic journey against all odds. And here we are today, leading what some might call an ordinary life," she recounted.

"Wow..." Denis nodded in admiration, his heart stirred by Michaela's tale of resilience. Despite the inspiration gleaned from her words, the weight of his sorrow and disappointment with life lingered. Stuck amidst his emotions, Denis grappled with the complexities of his narrative, searching for a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.