The Child of the Void
In a small hut nestled deep within a forest, a young boy slept peacefully on the floor. It seemed as though he had been slumbering there for an eternity, traversing dreams that spanned countless worlds and eons. Oblivious to the outside world, he remained deep in his sleep. Days turned into nights, and seasons kept changing, but the boy remained lost in his endless slumber.
One morning, a subtle change occurred inside the hut. For a slight moment, a faint uneasiness and a touch of sorrow flickered across the boy’s face, only to vanish almost immediately. What emerged afterward was a serene smile as his eyes slowly opened. However, confusion flickered in his gaze, as if questioning his surroundings. He glanced around, absorbing the room and the outside world through the window. Drawn by a curious spark, he approached the window, its view revealing a mesmerizing tapestry of trees, flowers, a gurgling river, and the lullaby of chirping birds. It was as if the window had become a portal to another realm. Despite his inability to recall his identity or purpose, the outside world captivated him. The fresh scent of the river mingled with the musky fragrance of the forest, kept him in a blissful trance.
As time passed, clouds began to shroud the sky, hinting at an impending rain shower. Seated near the window, the boy immersed himself in the symphony of surrounding sounds, letting curiosity slowly replace his confusion. The wind started to stir, thunder rumbled in the distance, and droplets descended from the sky, slowly morphing into a gentle drizzle. Extending his hand outside the window, the boy caught the raindrops, clearly finding amusement in the sensation. With each fleeting moment, his smile widened. After a while, he withdrew his hand, content, and observed as the rain intensified. The tranquil downpour enveloped him, instilling a deep calm within him. As twilight approached, he grew drowsy once again, lulled by the gentle, rhythmic symphony of the rain and forest. The boy slowly drifted into slumber again beside the window, accompanied by the dark night and the ever-present rain. Peace emanated from his serene countenance.
Days passed by and time lost its grip as the rain persisted, unmeasured and ceaseless. Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the rain ceased its descent, and a new day unfolded. Sunlight pierced through the dispersing clouds, casting a warm glow upon the boy’s face. His eyes slowly fluttered open, memories of his previous awakening mingling with his present consciousness. Slowly getting up, he gazed out of the window, greeted by a vibrant panorama. Colorful flowers danced with beautiful butterflies fluttering around instilling a slight joy and playfulness in the boy’s mind. While fruit-laden trees swayed gently with Sakura leaves drifting down due to the breeze, making it seem like the whole world was dancing to the lullaby of nature.
The boy, driven by an unspoken yearning, stepped towards the door for the first time, his bare feet caressing the grass as he ventured into nature’s embrace. Yet, at the threshold of his dwelling, he hesitated, momentarily lost in thought. Though he tried to recall the reason behind his pause, it eluded him. Finally, with a resolute breath, he ventured forth.
As he stepped outside, the forest and the nearby river enveloped him completely. He absorbed the scents carried by the breeze, savoring the calmness and euphoria it brought him while mingling with nature. Drawing closer to a small tree, he plucked a handful of fruits, relishing their succulence as he made his way to the riverside. Seated beside the tranquil flowing water, he relished the sweet taste of the fruits, his gaze fixated on the flowing current and the lifeforms within. Unperturbed by the absence of companionship, he reveled in the solace of his own company and nature. Hours slipped away as he communed with the river until the encroaching darkness signaled his return to the hut.
After a short journey, he arrived back at the door, looking back once again at the vivid world he had experienced, feeling a slight reluctance to go back inside. But moments later he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Settling near the window once more, he absorbed the captivating sights of the twilight forest. As time progressed, the night grew and everything turned dark around. He closed his eyes, not to sleep, but to delve into profound contemplation. His thoughts transcended worlds, dimensions, and eons.
After a very long time, his eyes fluttered open, and he uttered his first words in what felt like an eternity: “I understand. I remember.” A small smile graced his lips, leaving observers uncertain whether it conveyed happiness, irony, or the bittersweet taste of recollection. It was a smile that carried the weight of finality. Gradually, everything around him outside faded away, consumed by the ever-present void. Only the hut remained until it too succumbed and the boy was swallowed by the abyssal void.
The boy remained unfazed by the changes around him. Despite the emptiness, the darkness, and the absence of all existence, he exuded an unyielding determination. A hint of sadness momentarily flickered in his smile, only to be replaced by an unwavering resolve. Slowly he started walking in a direction, and with every step he took, he pondered in the vast expanse of the void, blending into its ethereal essence, never to be seen again. The boy was the child of the void, destined to traverse it for eternity, adrift in an eternal journey. Occasionally, he would dream of the familiar world, seeking an anchor amidst the vastness of his mind, yearning for a finite space intertwined with what he held dear when he would get lost during his never-ending travel.
The child of the void lost within the infinite expanse sought answers to questions that existed beyond existence itself. Forever adrift in the eternal void, he embraced the embrace of nothingness.
