Onward to the Sun

Chapter 1: Dreaming of a Magical World

Chapter 1: Dreaming of a Magical World

I opened my laptop and proceeded to watch the Fantasy movie that I downloaded last night, then I grabbed my favorite potato chips and ate while watching the opening of the film. I closed my eyes and remembered again the weird dreams I have been experiencing for a few months already—about this magical place that seems surreal, but very real to me. It made me feel like I was supposed to be there, not here. I am really unable to explain whatever sentiment it is that I feel, but all I know is that I feel connected to this world, or whatever this place is supposed to be. I guess it is just because I have watched and read too many fantasy movies and stories.

Going back, I always dream of this magical world; it felt so true and genuine despite of the fact that I know it does not exist because in my dream, there are people here who can actually use ‘magic’. Still, it felt like I was personally there to see it all for myself. The experience felt too real, and it was weird because it was just a dream, and dreams aren’t supposed to feel very real. However, whenever I wake up from that dream, I forget most of the experiences that I went through in that magical place. I only remember a few snippets and fragments of whatever it is that I have seen for myself or encountered, and they were also very vague. I am unable to connect the dots, but whatever little detail I remember from my dreams, I draw them—I looked at the sketches, drawings, and paintings that I put unto my wall; they were mostly from that place that I usually dream of, to make me immortalize the only few things that I can recall and reminisce. In addition to this, I remember a certain man, but the memory of him is very vague.

I remember seeing this mysterious face with deep and dark crimson eyes that were glowing, as if something in there, in his beautiful orbs, was burning with such intensity that I cannot fathom. He had this messy and slightly disheveled dark red hair that almost looked black, shifting to a lighter shade of red whenever there is sunlight that is hitting it. That’s the only part of him I remember, and the rest of his face is equivocal already. This is why up to now, I am still unable to finish his painting which I decided to glue on the side of my room, just in case I start to remember the rest of his facial features including his nose and his lips, those are the only things left in order for me to finally complete my drawing of this mysterious man that reminds me of the Sun.

Another thing I remember which I drew were these magical and mythical creatures from that place—beautiful elves, both fair and dark, with pointy ears and they featured this platinum-blonde hair that almost looked white—they watched over nature, I suppose. Their eyes were a shade of purple, and they were all aesthetically beautiful. I also saw fairies who were about the size of my head and they had these butterfly-like wings that were almost transparent. Then there were these angels too who ruled the sky, mermaids and mermen who watched over the ocean. Dwarves too, who were half my size. There were other mythical animals too that I have seen, including this magical bird that seems to be made of fire. The bird looked divine, and I knew it was a Phoenix. Somehow, I am very fascinated of this Phoenix for no reason.

I also remember drawing dark animals from my dream, like wolves whose fur seems to be made of black smoke, and their glowing gray eyes seemed almost white, and their sharp teeth too appears very deadly, as if one bite is enough to amputate and kill you.

When the movie finally started, I decided to focus my mind on it already. Midway, I got bored of the film, so I decided to stop watching and just lazily lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. It gets harder and harder to find a good movie or book to engross myself with nowadays, especially when my standards are already high. I sighed.

I looked at the clock hanging on the left corner of my room and saw it was already nine in the morning. I decided to just sleep because I don't feel like doing anything. This is a mood I always get myself into whenever I am not satisfied with what I've watched or read. I heaved another sigh and closed my eyes.

"You're not meant to be here." A strange voice called out to me out of nowhere and I could not move from my spot. I felt like this force was stopping me from doing anything, telling me to focus on it.

"What do you mean?"

"Your place is there." The magical voice replied, resonating across the place. I looked around and realized that I was standing on top of the water—is this another dream? I guess so, because this cannot be real, how can I stand above water? As I looked down unto the endless depth of the water, I saw my reflection gazing back at me. How is this even possible? I looked at the vast firmament and saw the Sun that was shining bright, its warm rays of sunlight prickled my skin in a good way, as if telling me this was not a dream, that it was real. I was confused as to what is happening already.

“What do you mean, what place?” I asked, trying to search for the magical voice that was speaking to me. But there was no one with me, it felt like the voice was just in my head.

"You'll know soon, Luna." The voice answered; as the echo slowly toned down, everything else in the place started to grow dark as well, turning everything into nothingness.

When I woke up, I felt lightheaded—it felt like I dreamed once more, but I do not remember or recall anything at all. It felt like I talked to someone, I just cannot remember who. A stranger from my dreams, perhaps? I sighed and decided to just forget about it since there is no use fretting over something that I cannot recall. I looked at the window of my room and realized it was dark already. I must have slept the entire day... But this means Dad is already home. I looked at the side of my door and saw the items that I asked for him to purchase for me; he probably didn't wake me up anymore because I was too deep in my sleep, or I guess he tried to wake me up but I was a heavy sleeper, so he miserably failed. I laughed at the latter thought.

I felt hungry, which is why I decided to hop out of my bed and go downstairs to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and saw a container that stores spaghetti, it was our dinner last night. I smelled it, and it was still not spoiled—just cold. I decided to heat it using the microwave, and while waiting, I made a banana smoothie. I took the spaghetti and smoothie after, then went to the living room where I caught my dad chilling and watching his favorite television show.

"Hi, Dad. Have you eaten dinner already?"

"Yes." He replied, his eyes engrossed on the screen. "There are leftovers in the fridge." He spoke. “I tried waking you up.”

“And you failed.” I chuckled.

“Indeed, I did.” He replied.

"Anyway, I've already heated the spaghetti since that is the first thing I saw," I said casually. I sat on the free space of the couch at Dad's side and started to consume the spaghetti, "how was work?" I asked.

"Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything was typical and normal, as usual." He looked at me after, "By the looks of you, Luna, I am betting fifty bucks that you slept the entire day and that you still have not taken a bath." He raised an eyebrow, as if telling me to confirm or decline his wild guess.

"You guessed it right." I pursed my lips after, "and it is cold... But don't worry, after dinner, I am going to take a shower."

"You better do."

When I finished eating and drinking the smoothie, I went back to the kitchen and washed the dishes. I just let Dad watch his favorite show and decided to go back to my room upstairs. I took my pair of pajamas and went to the bathroom, undressed, turned the heater on and played my song playlist on Spotify, and let myself be soaked in the comfort of warm water.

After taking a shower, I dried myself with my bathrobe and hair towel and changed into the pair of pajamas that I got from my closet. Then, I hopped onto my bed, with my back facing the ceiling. I sighed out of relief and let myself start to fall into deep slumber once more.

Another typical day for me—eat, watch, sleep, eat, and sleep again. I wish every day is just like this—just me and my own world. It is more than enough for me. Dad said I should experience the world; he does not know that I am experiencing it already through the things I watch and read. I do not need to go out anymore, I can just stay here, inside my room, and have my own adventure.

I closed my eyes and felt something strange that seems to be pulling me. I cannot really explain why, but this weak force appears to be commanding me to go downstairs and proceed to the living room of our house, where my mother's painting lies. The painting... It was weird, because it seems like the painting was a magnet. I didn't pay any attention to whatever it is anymore and decided to just sleep.