Alicia And The Letter

Charles Beauregard​

      Alicia awoke with a sudden start. Head spinning, she looks around to see a world of blurs, though they were bright colors. As she waited for her eyes to adjust to the lights, she noticed the ground underneath her. It was soft, but at the same time almost a water-like texture. Bright green, it seemed to be a kind of moss, covering the entire ground, or perhaps it was the ground.
      "Where have I seen you before?" She whispered.
      She soon realized she was in some strange, new type of forest. It was magical. The leaves of the trees were a dull purple and blue. As she reached up, she noticed they were soft to the touch.
      "Softer than silk?" Alicia jumped.
      "Who- who's there?"
      "Not only did I survive the fall, last time I saw you, but I blossomed, just as you said I would, Alicia." Her heart raced with fear, but also with excitement.
      "What? What fall? Where are you?"
      "Look around, at the trunk of the trees may I suggest. Perhaps you'll find me." She looked around, only to find a snail poking it's head out. It had a... Flower on it's shell?
      "Yes, this is me. Do you not remember? I will admit, it was many years ago, but most do not forget saving a life."
      "You can talk?! Uh... When did- did I 'save' you, and what is this place? Why is it so familiar?"
       At this the snail snorted a laugh.
"Well I'd hope it'd be familiar. You only called it the 'most magical place I've ever seen, Mr. Beauregard.'"
      "Well, yes. I suppose that is an accurate description, but that didn't answer my first question. When did I supposedly save you?" Alicia was confuse, yet not frustrated.
She didn't know what this place was, or where, but why care? She'll find out how to get home later. This was magical. It was beautiful, and best of all, it was solitude from her real life.
      "I suppose you don't remember my name either then?" She shook her head.
       "My name is Charles Beauregard III, and perhaps a-"
       Alicia nearly shrieked. She did state excitedly, and with quite speed "No! You're Charles? From when I was little? The snail we nursed back to life and read stories to every night? Mom said you wouldn't make it, but I knew better. We named you after the little foster kid who found you, and everyone was so excited to-"
      "Yes, yes happy memories, but no time to look back now. We are very busy and have places to go, now if you'll allow me.."
      "What? Oh, oh! Yes!" Alicia held out her hand and Charles crawled on to it, then made his way to her shoulder.
      As they walked, the two spoke of any thing and everything. From why the trees were so tall, to what made ice cream melt, they talked for what seemed hours, filled with life and happiness Alicia hadn't felt in a while. There was contentment, then there was this. At times like this all she could wonder was how there could be sadness somewhere in her world at the same time? Why?
      "Alicia. What's on your mind?"
      "Nothing."
      "We both know you're lying. What is it?"
      "What happens when I wake up? I've had this dream before, and I always hate waking up, because this place always felt like my Paradise; it's​ were I can go to forget the rest of the world, but it's so temporary." At this Charles became red in the face; something Alicia didn't know snails could do. It was so.... Strange.
      "Now SEE here Miss Alicia! I don't go around calling your home fake! I mean, imagine how crazy I sounded when I told everyone there was a world where the leaves changed colors. They changed colors on their Own! I sounded positively mad! This world is just as real as yours, if not more so, and I can't believe you would call a world you use to visit all the time fake. You, my friend, are absolutely bonkers! Now, take a right up here at the fork in the road, I wish to take the shortcut to town. I'm exhausted."