Envision a boy opening a curtain, in a colourless world. Afar green scenery can be seen, specifically a tall green tree.

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The boy slightly bends one knee, placing the other carefully behind.

 

He lunges and runs.

 

As the cold wind seemingly breezed through his skin; he felt free. He closed his eyes to focus so perhaps when he opened them, he could be surrounded by the beautiful sky, the vivid lush green trees and the smell of…whatever trees smelt like.

 

Thump. Thump. 

 

He almost felt like he was flying while leaping with large steps. Why hadn’t he discovered this early? Why only now was he able to reveal the other side? Between breaths, his lips shakingly smiled. No matter now, all the boy wanted was to reach the other end. The boy couldn’t remember the last time he longed for something this much, the last time that he was voraciously willing to strive for more or even desire it.

 

The steady thumping and rhythm of his footsteps hitting the ground made it hard to distinguish between his own heartbeat. 

 

He hesitantly opens his eyes, looking down. 

 

Still not there? He groaned to himself. The usual plain grass innocently swayed. His pace had already slowed down and he could feel his fatigue almost sink in. He couldn’t lose his momentum and leaped an extra step faster in hopes it would trick his brain into allowing him to stretch his physical limits. 

 

Almost there He thought to himself, comforting his body that it would be worth it in the end if he could just do anything to reach the other side. Having heard that last excuse for what seemed like a year already, his body trusted him less. His body could feel it was an unfamiliar surrounding. His instincts caused him to flash his eyes open.

 

He halted.

 

The plain grass was now feeding his anger. Breathlessly, he gulped down his frustration only causing him to choke; he needed to breathe.

 

No. If I stop now, I’ll only wallow in self-pity. He knew if he didn’t move now, he may never be able to. He badly wanted to leave the sorry state he was in, he wanted to see more than just the usual and…he wanted to rest. He knew he wouldn’t be able to rest knowing he hadn’t reached the other side.

He squinted further to see where the lush trees were. The only tree in his direction was further than all the others, should he change direction now? Is it too late?  Thoughts whirled his now lethargic and dizzy mind. 

 

How long do I have to do this? How much longer?? Tears were starting to arise and still in the moment, he could feel how tired he was; his lungs trying to replete as much oxygen as they could, his heartbeat which he could feel in his calves, and his knees which were shakingly holding him up. 

 

No. NONONONO His inner dialogue was a mess, it seemed like he was fighting against his body but now it was his body and his own comfort he needed to win against. 

 

He wanted to rest, he wanted to stop but he wanted the beautiful trees and grass. He shut his eyes tighter despite his raging curiosity. He couldn't open his eyes, the risk was too large, and he wouldn’t be able to move an inch more if all his efforts were in vain. 

 

The wind was cold, cutting through his skin like knives. His footsteps were no longer steady, his heartbeat was going to burst out of his body and his calves were tensing up. He moved one leg after another and picked up speed, the speed wasn’t in his pace, however, it was in his heart. His heart was the most affected by the intense emotions of anger, excitement and strong desire but it was the restless pounding of the heart that replaced the contentment of the thumping footsteps. 

 

The boy didn’t need his footsteps to assure him that he was getting closer anymore.

 

In his breathless state, he could still only imagine what the other side would bring him. He stopped, he couldn’t ignore his health anymore, he wouldn’t be able to take it. He opened his eyes a centimetre and squinted as he ran. He hesitantly looked up.

 

He saw the beautiful sky, a rich blue sky.

 

His foot lost its certainty and he slumped to the ground. Paying no attention, he whipped his head back; the colour drained from his face. The beautiful sky he was admiring, stretched to where the boy once was. It stretched beyond that, it stretched so far he couldn’t dare estimate how far it went. 

 

A dawning conclusion came to him and he stumped to the ground. A meter away was a lush green tree. He stared. He gasped for air and crawled next to the tree for shelter. Grabbing at the grass he once looked down on, he was grateful for the soft landing they provided. Was the plain usual grass always so green?

 

The boy rested against the tree. He looked in the direction beyond the tree, confirming his suspicions and looked back smiling. It wasn’t an angry smile but rather, a satisfied one. He looked at the distance he came and grinned. He grinned so wide his cheeks felt numb, the rest of his body seemed to melt into the ground due to the fatigue. 

 

“This will do, this will do for now...” the boy whispered to himself as he closed his eyes, soaking in the sun. 

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Just a little beyond the tree, was another neatly untouched curtain.