Alone in so dismal a place.
Once upon a time, removed from civilization, a tower stood, surrounded
by fog. In that tower sat a seamstress who hadn’t seen a ray of light in
years. She spent her time sewing the fabric that appeared on her floor
when she looked away. Moreover, her only source of light was a mere
candle that never consumed itself.
In that empty room she stitched using an embroidery thread, but when
did she learn those patterns and would she ever escape this toil? She
didn’t lack anything. This bubble of bliss suited her well enough. However,
her thirst for answers lingered. Bliss is perfect happiness
See, seize, sew… and repeat.
Simply and swiftly, her movements were precise. She grew accustomed
to the dimly-lit room and never made any mistakes despite her poor work
conditions. It was her only reason to live, and it was enough.
As time passed, the amount of fabric diminished and she wondered if the
end was nigh.
The tower was crumbling, albeit rather slowly, and seeds grew in the the
gaps between the worn out bricks. Nevertheless, those changes remained
unnoticed at first.
One day, she started to wonder about her condition. What was the
meaning of her never ending tasks? If she had no purpose anymore, what
would she become? Were there any chances for her to enjoy life? And
who breathed out this refreshing air that came from the outside?
Unexpectedly entwined in a gloomy grip, she fell asleep.
She had a dream where she pulled her body out of a lake. Her memories
were scattered, out of her grasp. Do I want you to tell me about that?
Even if I know that it’ll ruin us? Remain in Oblivion where it’s safe. She
opens her eyes. See, seize, sew. Endlessly. Then, she felt a water drop.
What time was it?
She seemed to have lost track of it once again.
She woke up from the trance, and finally noticed of the tower’s decay. But
she could feel a lurking presence in the shade. She froze. As the creature
loomed she started to think about an escape plan. But the creature was
getting closer and closer. She panicked and punched the wall and as it
turned to dust, she jumped into the unknown.
She stood, surrounded by an eerie forest in a veil of fog, without a
scratch. But her eyes burnt and she felt dizzy. However, the crippling
sound of an insect that climbed down the wretched remains of the tower
made her blood curdle. The creature was the reason of her isolation. The
cause of her torment. She was trailed.
Driven by her wish to stay alive she headed forward. Deeper into the
unknown.
The trees were almost human-like and despite their expression of agony,
she trusted them. They seemed to show her the way. She was still dizzy,
and yet on no account would she go back. She taught that the creature
took possession of the land behind, covering it with its shadow.
On her way out of the forest, she noticed unfamiliar sounds. Cheerful,
high-pitched, heart-warming sounds.
In the distance, she could see people, alive, for the first time and her face
turned ashen. She yearned to join them, but the underlying fear of being
disillusioned was painful.
On the outside of the wall that circled the city, there was a graveyard,
and going through was the shortest way. She had no time to waste.
Intricate sculptures, unkept vegetation and broken ceramics punctuated
her stroll among the buried. Quincy Endicott, Filippo Argenti, Elizabeth
Langtree, Jason Funderberke etc. For the first time of her life, something
seemed familiar… Like a memory. The wind beckoned through the leaves
and when she leapt over the wall of the cemetery she heard a whisper:
«Put an end to your journey before you drown. » Still, she ignored the
advice and fled.
As soon as she landed she felt as if something was drawing her down.
She crept her way to the deserted city center where burnt corpses were
exposed. Out of nowhere she heard a villager scream and before she
could do anything about it a mob gathered with awe. Panicked, she
worked her way to a well and disappeared in its depth. She came here to
find answers but she was left with more questions than before. She
waited. When night came she made sure that nobody was around and
headed to the closest shelter. It was one of the biggest houses in town
but it seemed uninhabited. There were books everywhere, and it was
finally quiet.
Alone in so dismal a place she was at peace.
She wandered through the place and saw chairs, blackboards and desks.
She came to the conclusion that people used to gather there. And yet,
even though it seemed well-kept, it was deserted. A room drew her
attention. It was completely empty and the moonlight reflected on the
wall. As she came closer to the main source of light, the creature that had
followed her since the tower revealed itself. Her time had come. She
withstood its icy look for a few seconds.
The wrinkly, half-melted and sluggish creature reached out and as their
hands touched on the frozen surface. She faced the truth.
And now,
she knew that she would never be able to go back to the way it was.