White

The sound of footsteps echo in my head. Frantically I look for the source of the sound, for they can be an enemy as much as my friend. But I’m confused. Its white all around me. A blaring, solid, white. Last I remember, the world was black. There were shapes and colors, things, people. But now everything is white. Why is this? The footsteps had ceased. I mentally hit myself. I got distracted again! I crouched low to the ground, not knowing what could happen, nor caring in particular. If I was in danger, and attacked, I could hold my own. I waited and listened in the whiteness. There was absolutely no sound in this place any more. The sound of my own heartbeat was driving me crazy. About to give up on my defensive posture I leaned forward, and deftly hit my head. I feel back with a little cry, rubbing my forehead. I could see nothing in front of me, but the pain was definitely real. I crept forward on my hands and knees, with one arm outstretched, testing the space in front of me. There! My hand flattened against a wall. I slid my hand up as far as I could reach and then down to the floor. This was definitely a wall.  Keeping my hand pressed against this wall, I walked to my right. This wall had to start somewhere, right?

I kept walking. It seemed to go for a while when suddenly I find a corner. Elated I continued until I discovered the full extent of my box. When I reached the fourth corner, my elation abated. Why was I so excited? I’m in a white box. Nothing to do, no where to go. I’m just, well, here. I sat cross-legged on the ground and pretended to be etching a drawing into the floor below me, pondering my predicament. Suddenly a loud clap sounded behind me. It was so quiet before, that this clap sounded like thunder to me. I jumped and whirled, but as I half expected there was nothing but white. The clap sounded again. And again. And again. Someone, or something, was applauding me. A low chuckle now reaches my ears. The sound was like having knives driven into my skull. I cried in pain and try to cover them, but I still heard it.

“So you've found out, haven’t you? Found your little, playground”. He said the last word with a sneer.  His voice made chills run down my spine. Who was he? This voice in the whiteness? He sounded unearthly. It frightened me, this voice of his. Thick like a smothering blanket.”You know now where you've been living. He keeps you here on purpose, you know. Keeps you locked up. Toying with you.”

My eyes widened with realization. Is that what this was?!

“Ah…” Said the voice in a dragged out tone. “I see you're not as quick as I originally thought.” He sighed heavily and continued with a note of disappointment. “And here I was excited to find someone who wants out as much as I do.” He paused for a second, as if pondering. I found myself shaking uncontrollably, still on my knees with my hands pressed to my head. I finally started to relax, thinking the voice had ended his one-sided conversation. But once again, his voice reached my hears, harsh and grinding into my head. “I was his favorite you know. Before you came along. What are you? A pitiful thing. Weak. Small. Not even pretty looking. Ha. I’m brilliant! I’m mighty! He can’t do anything without me! And what does he do? He coddles you like a piece of your precious diamonds. Bah. Foolish. Worthless.” It sounded like he hit the wall, for a mighty bang rang through the white world. All was still and silent now, but I hardly noticed. I was shaking. And crying. Was it true? Was any of this true? I started to sob, burying my face into the ground. I cried and cried. It was true. All of it was true. I’m worthless. Foolish. Pitiful. Fresh sobs racked my body as I laid there with nothing around me. With the voice haunting me. Suddenly I feel myself being lifted off the ground. The shock woke me from my darkness as I stared at the hand covering mine. A gentle breeze blew through my hair, like the air was sighing. Wait. A breeze! Something other than the voice and I exist in this box. The giant holding me, I instinctively knew, did not belong here in my box, unlike this soft breeze. A seed of hope was sewn. I felt it warming me. Slowly growing, tentative and weak, but spreading throughout my once-dark thoughts. The hand suddenly lets go of mine, and I drop softly to the ground with a small cry. The little bit of hope started to die. He was going to leave me again. He didn’t want me. I was worthless. I started to walk, dragging my feet. I was a fool. I am a fool. Everything then suddenly grew dark around me. I looked around, surprised. Up until now everything was a brilliant white. Then I see the source of the dark. I was in the shade of a tall pine tree. Taller than I could have ever imagined, with a trunk as wide as a small house. Beyond it were more trees, but some looked like they were burned to the ground. Others haphazardly chopped to pieces. There was a bag at the foot of the pine tree that read “Seed”. The breeze came again, but this time carried a whisper saying “heal my trees.” I smiled, and joyfully picked up the bag. He did want me after all! The eerie voice came back to me, but sounded miles away and I didn't bend over in pain. “It won’t last….”  

But before he could say another word, I passed into the forest without looking back.