It was unlike any place I've ever been.
To be honest, I don't even know how I got here. I think I'm standing on glass or am I floating? I don't have a single clue.
I looked around. The scene was entirely breathtaking. Down below it looks like one could fall for an eternity, yet still not touch any ground. Up above, the sky is tinted with shades of pink and gold. I can't tell if the sun is rising or setting. Is there even a sun? If there is I don't see it...
"What is this place?" I wondered as I saw something glint in the corner of my eye.
I spun around and saw doors with different names on them and they each have their own unique design. None of them have any design repeated.
One door that really caught my attention was the one with the name "Alexandra Petullo" imprinted in gold with silver lining. The door was splashed with vibrant colors that gradate from dark to light.
As I turned the door knob, I heard a loud "ROAR!!" I don't know where it came from but I remember myself hurriedly opening that door and slamming it behind me. My palms were all sweaty. My heart was beating so loudly that I thought I might pass out from all the adrenaline.
As I slowly recovered, I noticed a little girl riding on a merry-go-round all by herself. I waved but she didn't notice me. I cautiously came closer and asked, "What's your name? What is this place?"
She cheerfully replied, "Hi! My name is Alexandra! You can call me Alex though. I'd prefer that..." Just as she said that I noticed something cloud over those previously sparkling eyes...
"Well, Alex, my name is Arisa. It's my pleasure to meet you. Can you tell me what this place is?"
Her eyes cleared and once again I saw her eyes gleam as she told me that this was her happy place. The place she goes to escape from the "scary stuff."
The little girl looked like she was probably around seven or eight years old, with platinum blonde hair that reflected the colors in the sky. Because of her naïve appearance, I thought the "scary stuff" was probably just some imaginary monster under her bed.
But I know better now.
We talked on and on about our favorite things and laughed at our embarrassing memories. Everything about our conversation was nostalgic. We probably talked for hours straight yet not once did I think that this child was that much younger than me.
I haven't talked so much to anyone before. Let alone some stranger that I had just met.
We could've talked for an eternity if not for - "ALEXANDRA!!!!! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND!! How could you be sleeping when we are dealing with all of this?!?!"
Alex looked at me and I could see the fear in her eyes. Tears had started welling up in her eyes and as they trickled down her face, they sparkled like morning dew greeting the rise of the sun. Except nothing about these tears were magical. They only seemed to reflect the terror that had shown in her eyes.
I started inching closer to her. Wanting to comfort her, but suddenly everything disappeared.
The sky.
The merry-go-round.
Alex.
Everything.
I was left there falling continuously in the darkness... I thought that maybe I won't ever stop falling. I was terrified...
...
I opened my eyes and sprung up from bed. I was drenched in sweat.
But at that moment, I finally understood what Alex meant when she told me that she was escaping from the "scary stuff."
