Once Upon a Paradox

Chapter 5: Déjà vu

The chirps of singing goldfinch birds filled the morning as the sun peeked through the window of a rustic abode.

The warm and bright rays of sunlight shone on a sleeping girl.

Her eyes, amber coloured, peaked open, glistening in the sun's light.

She rubbed her red tired eyes, slowly as she let out a soft sigh.

With tired eyes, she soon got out of bed and began changing out of her sleepwear, she then glanced over at a birch basket resting comfortably on a wooden table, almost instinctively, as it rested next to a pile of colourful books.

In tacky ink it wrote:

My dearest Little Red,

I'm heading to the city market to pick up some grains. I've left a basket with pudding, herbs, and the likes for your grandame. Please take it to her as soon as you can this morning—she'll be needing the herbs.

But don't forget, finish your chores first, and don't dawdle! The path through the woods can be long, and you know how much she depends on you.

I'll be back in a few days' time. Be good, my love.

With all my heart,

Mother

She sighed, "Well, my cup has...runneth over?"

With a raised eyebrow, she made her way outside to begin her chores with a basket in hand, her body wrapped in a black cloak.

She wandered to the back yard where the chicken coop was and shakily, one by one, took the eggs. The chickens were outside, but this did not give the same peace of mind she was used to.

They then flocked around her as she fed them a mixture of barley, wheat and oats.

Using a piece of brown cloth, she cleaned the eggs hurriedly as she made her way back inside, where she placed the basket of eggs next to the birch basket. Again, outside, she watered the flowers and crops around her house clumsily as if in a haste.

She then swept the inside of the rustic abode haphazardly, then outside.

Wiping perspiration off her face, she recoiled her hair behind her ears preparing gruel. It was sweetened with honey and flavoured with a dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg.

As it boiled, using a wooden spoon she added the rest in, the oats, barley, and millet.

As it prepared, she stepped out of the cottage, trampling flowers as she walked to a nearby stream as cold air contracted her skin. She sat by the stream and slowly, she took off her black cloak, revealing her naked body.

Dropping the cloak behind her she stepped into the stream, sitting in the almost muted waters. She closed her eyes trying to relax in the water, listening to the chimes of birds singing. She then opened her eyes suddenly and apace, fixed on the distant forest, panicked.

An image, a dark vague image took over her senses. A rift to her usually peaceful morning bathes occurred, a feeling.

Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and sunk into the water in hopes of blocking her senses. Now every sound around was nothing but soft muffles.

She hoped for relief, relief from a daydream of uncertainty and repetitiveness.

"Can today just be different?" Red questioned herself. "Less routine, less...predictable?"

"Hmm, wait, something is wrong."

"The gruel!" she heaved, jerking up and leaving the stream whilst wrapping the black cloak around her. She rushed back to the cottage with quick muddy steps imprinting behind her as the cold morning wind made her shiver.