The Quill

Chapter One: The Boxes

                  

We begin in a world full of technology. Where advanced science is the natural way of life, and where apps and pictures dominate the critical parts of our existence. These things called audiobooks conquer paperbacks. A world where information is at the fingertips of conception – where we have free reign over all the knowledge of the world. We can say "bonjour!" to our friend in France while we stand next to our friends in Hawaii. There are things called Ubers and Apple Pay. Our glasses can now take pictures for us, while we use them innovatively. With the push of a button, fire is made. With the twist of a handle, water is in our grasp. Artworks no longer need to be made by hand – we can easily make them on our tablets. Our fast paced world is no longer our own. We share this world with everyone around us – our family, our friends, our co-workers. Even strangers make their way into our lives.

But though this world is vast, it is small. With everything already owned, we no longer want to explore. We're afraid to fear, to be immobilized by our darkest thoughts. Even children nowadays don't want to slay the dragon. We refuse to become princesses or knights; we refuse to fight the wars against the mushrooms in our backyard. We refuse to think, to dream, to experience. We've forgotten about the other world – the world that is increasing in size by the minute! In this other, bigger world, there are things like imagination and brilliance. Mermaids, Orcs, Giants, Unicorns, and Talking Animals exist. Things that we don't have definitions for are a part of this world. In this world, we are Kings and Queens. We are conquerors and kind to others. We've slayed thousands of evildoers, only to rejoice to fight the next fight. We don't run away in this world. Cowardice is not a part of our vocabulary, unlike the one found in your dictionary app.

But this world hasn't been found since the days of old. Since the day you were born, this world was forgotten. During your early years of life, you'd catch glimpses of this world – the world you had forgotten. As a child, you strived to be there – you pretended that you were there. You imagined it; you envisioned it in your world that was growing smaller by the minute. Unfortunately, you eventually grew to the age where you forgot to imagine it. The memory of this world was hidden away behind the backdrops of life. And this world that you knew became smaller and smaller.

The only way this world can squeeze its way into your life is when you can't think for yourself. When you dream at night, this world is what you dream of. You've now completely forgotten this big world, but this world hasn't forgotten you. These dreams you sleep on are actually you entering this world again, night after night. But a spell was put on you – one that makes you forget the world when you wake up each morning. The adventures you went through, the creatures you've met, disappear with the night; only to be found once again in your next slumber.

Make the most of your dreams. Don't forget about them, and they will never forget about you. This other world – this Big World – belongs to all of us. Don't forget to remember.

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            A breeze caught her hair, and forced it back into her face, laughing eerily as she huffed and grabbed the mangled pieces from her mouth. She shivered once, just to shake the dreaded feeling from her body. Her huge, fur coat wrapped around her like a blanket, but even then it wasn't enough. Her boots delighted in embracing the soft, white snow around her, even though her toes cried in agony over the biting cold. The trail she created hardly made a dent in the pavement, and she herself thought it was unreasonable for Mrs. Wooddancer to force her out there to get those packages. Why was it suddenly her job? She shivered again, this time more violently, and pressed her mitten-hugging hand against the glass door. She pushed it and it opened; a rush of icy wind fighting to breathe inside the building.

"Hello, how can I help you?" Her face lifted at the words from the man behind the desk, a professional smile plastered on his face. She smiled back politely, trying to get herself together while walking up to the desk.