A Fairy Door

        It was a rainy Sunday and I figured I should take the lousy weather as a sign it was high time I clean out the old  home office.  It had been my home base for over a year but now that I was back at corporate it should be restored to its former semblance of a room with order and taste.  

        I had purchased a small filing cabinet over Amazon to keep files in but since they were back since they had returned to my cubicle with me there wasn’t much of a use for it.  I thought maybe I could sell it on Ebay and recoup some of my money.  I snapped a picture of it on my phone and as I was making the obligatory adjustments to the image I notice a line on the wall behind the cabinet.  I examined the wall in real life closer and much to my surprise the line seemed like a door frame.  I moved the stuff away and couldn’t believe that a tiny door existed there.  ‘I must be losing brain cells’, I thought for I didn’t know there was a crawl space access panel in this room let alone a crawl space in this condominium.  Granted I had only moved in about six months before the pandemic and was still frazzled from the divorce so I guess it had just not registered in my brain.

       Out of pure curiosity I opened the door to peer inside.  I crossed my fingers that no bat or mouse would spring out.  Instead something much more surprising met my eyes.  I stood there for who knows how long trying to process the sprawling meadow before me.  I lived in a suburb, so how could a meadow exist right on the other side of my wall.  

        “Hello!” I heard a squeaky voice exclaim.  I looked around for the source but saw only winged critters fluttering about the meadow.  “Try looking down”, came the voice a second time.

        I tilted my gaze and saw a small head sticking out of the ground.  The head had medium length chestnut colored hair and a matching beard along with eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea and just as endless.  “So you finally decided to say hello”, the little figure spoke to me.

        “Who are you?  What is this place?”

        “Oh I suppose the best way to describe it is as a safe zone for folks like me.”

        “Folks like you?”

        “Your people have all sorts of names for my people.  Elf, leprechaun, gnome, dwarf, ect.”

        “You’re an elf?”

        “If that’s the name that suits you.”

        “Why are you hiding in my wall?”

        “It’s not just your wall.  We hide in plain sight all over the world.  But we decided to consider merging back?”

        “Merge back?”

        “With the rest of you.  Long ago we all decided to part ways.  You humans were too intense but we hoped you would mellow someday.  Some of us think that’s happening so we investigated.”

        “So you elves created a door in my condo to spy on me?”

        “Not spy, observe and not just you.  And not just we elves.”  The elf’s tiny arm gestured around the meadow and for the first time I noticed that the winged critters looked like drawings I had seen as a little girl of fairies.  I also saw unicorns and griffins and dragons strolling and grazing through the meadow.  Every fairy tale creature imaginable was out there.”

        “I don’t believe this”, I uttered out loud.

        “I’m surprised we learned that you still kept stories of us.”

        “Yea but I didn’t think unicorns and fairies existed.”

        “Why is it any harder to believe we exist than the octopus or the rhino or the scorpion?  They were just the ones who chose to stay with you humans.”

        “They chose?”

        “Yup we all held a committee.  We all wanted to leave but the wolf spoke in favor of staying.  The wolf said they saw goodness in humans and that they just needed time to learn how let go of the fear of dying.  They hadn’t found their place yet in the circle of life.  So wolf said they were staying and that they would protect all who stayed with them.”

        I had to chuckle.  This was all so absurd.“The wolf’s a voracious predator not a protector.”

        “See you humans still don’t have a wide enough perspective.  Predators have a strong bond with prey.  They look after them.  They end their lives when they become sickly or in pain or if they simply have had enough.  They keep the populations strong and make sure they keep moving so the cycles of nature can flow properly.  We were sad to learn you humans grew to resent the wolf and it’s mercy it showed you.  But we see you making attempts at restitution which is one of the reasons we have hopes we can return soon.”

         “I think if you are looking for a kinder gentler human population you will have to keep waiting for a very long time.”

        “Perhaps or perhaps not. We have observed you for instance taking great strides to widen your perspective.”

        This time I had to give a full laugh.  “I’m a mess.”

        “Nonsense.  You have put your happiness first.  You left all that made you unhappy now you just need to follow through by going out to play.”

        “Play?”

        “You humans don’t understand play from a wide enough perspective either so you put too little of it in your life.”

        “I know how to relax.  I pour myself some wine at night and read a book or watch a movie.”

        “That’s all fine to inspire play but real play involves others and it brings oneness which I believe you humans call pleasure.”

        “Why do you call it oneness?”

        “Because it’s when you feel whole with everything.  Where you no longer worry about anything because you are a part of it all and so how can a part of you be a threat to you.”

        “Well, when you put it that way I guess I haven’t experienced much pleasure.”

        “So go out and have some.  It does wonders to widen one’s perspective.”

        “I’m not sure how?”

        “That’s the strangest thing about you humans?  You take all the play out of play.  Just follow the little tingle in your belly, the flutter in your heart and you will find oneness.”  With that the little head disappeared back into the ground.  

        “Hey come back I wasn’t done”, I yelled fruitlessly.  I debated whether I should walk into the meadow for a few moments but the head never reappeared and I felt it was best I not disturb something I still was unsure of.  I closed the door.

         As I sat on the floor I tried to process everything I just learned.  I don’t know how long I sat there but I was jolted out of my rumination by the chirp of my phone.  It was a text message from Melissa an old friend I hadn’t seen in over a year.  She and her new boyfriend were going to the beach tomorrow.  She wanted to know if I felt like joining them.  I was about to politely decline but as I typed I thought about what the elf said.  I hadn’t seen Melissa in years and I didn’t know her boyfriend but I had a flutter in my chest and a tingle in my stomach.  I told her yes and with that I started backing a beach bag and hoped the little man was watching.

The End.

If you liked this story please feel free to check out my novel called Brandon's Fairy Tale available for digital download on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Brandons-Fairy-Tale-Matthew-Basile-ebook/dp/B07FTTKGHG/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Brandon%27s+fairy+tale&qid=1626023819&sr=8-3

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                                                 The Writing Process

        It’s been a while since I put pen to paper, or I suppose finger to keyboard these days.  I don’t really know why though.  It always came naturally to me.  Telling stories that is.  I used to entertain my friends with elaborate fantasy when we were kids and it was a simpler time.  We would all gather somewhere and come up with special names and costumes then I would think up the objective for our adventures.  It was great fun as we just improvised and rolled with it.  We never knew quite how it would end up.  We would just keep it going for as long as we could till it was time for all of us to go home.  These days everything seems so much more confusing and hectic then it did then.  Oh hold that thought someone is at the door.  

        It was just somebody claiming to be from the electric company and trying to save me money on my bill.  I’m wise to that scam.  Now where was I?  Oh yea getting back to writing.  I mean I tried to write a novel a few years back but you know after eight hours at the office in addition to an hour commute each way you feel kind of drained.  Then of course on weekends there are chores like cleaning and grocery shopping.  Plus your friends want to go out to a restaurant or see the latest Hollywood action/comedy/thriller starring Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone.  Hang on phone’s ringing.  

        Speaking of friends that was just Bob calling to tell me we are all meeting up at Barcade tonight.  It’s this bar that has retro video games.  Usually a good place to spend a few hours.  Getting back to writing though I don’t really have many good ideas.  It seems like everything has already been done out there.  I mean superheroes are just everywhere.  Vampires and werewolves have been done to death.  Romance isn’t my thing.  And even if it was after my last relationship I wouldn’t want to go there.  I’m not ready yet.  I suppose mystery is always an option.  I used to read mysteries when I was younger.  I would devour any book with a whodunit.  Wait, just remembered I got to switch over the laundry.

        Where was I?  Oh yea now I remember, the laundry.  So as it turned out the dryer is busted so I had to run to the laundry mat to dry my clothes.  While there I was watching the TV screens. Did you know they are doing a reboot of Legends of the Hidden Temple with adult contestants?  I remember that show from when I was a kid.  I was obsessed with Nicktoons as well.  I would love to write something like those old shows.  I used to have all kinds of ideas that I would write down.  Wish I kept that notebook.  It would probably give me some inspiration for today’s writing.  Maybe I’ll check Instagram and see what’s happening there.  Something on there is bound to get the imagination gears turning.

       Wow it’s almost time to go meet the gang at Barcade.  I gotta write something here so the day wasn’t a total waste.  Oh speaking of waste, I just remembered I wanted to check out that Earth Day special my favorite podcast just dropped.  I love listening to those guys.

        I can’t believe the day’s gone.  I got just enough time now for a quick shower before I head out.  I wish I had written something worthwhile today.  I know tomorrow I gotta be at my sister’s house.  It’s my nephew’s fifth birthday party and I volunteered to help set up.  Well, maybe next weekend I’ll write.

                                                        The End?

         I am so confused.  I look around and see me lying on a bed.  I look so still, how strange.  Why am I looking down on myself and my family and friends?  “Hello, Ullam”, a voice says.  I spin my head and see a man next to me.  His eyes are kind.  

        “Who is Ullam?”, I ask.

        “That is your true name.  You will remember soon.  It is always jarring when you first leave a body and the amnesia wears off.”

        “What amnesia? What is going on?  Who are you?”

        “Be calm.  Everything is as it should be.  Your time in your body has simply run its intended course.”

        “You mean I’m dead?”

        “If you ceased to exist would be having this conversation?  The life you chose to experience has come to an end as it does for everyone.”

        “Oh look at everyone down there.  They are so sad.  I’m not gone. I’m right here.  Why can’t they hear me?”

        “They are too much in grief it is blocking your communication with them.”

        “Tell me how to unblock it then.”

        “Only they can find their way out of grief and they will in time and then you will be able to reach out to them.”

        “That doesn’t seem fair.”

        “Why do you consider it not fair?”

        “They’re struggling down there.  I could help them.  Let them know I am okay.  I should be allowed to help them when they are most in need.”

        “It is when they are most in need that the greatest opportunity for growth becomes present.  Helping them would give them no benefit until they help themselves.”

        “It is cruel.  Are all those in the world of the dead as unfeeling as you.”

        “You just still have a limited view of things from your time in your body.  They have their own guides who are watching over them.  They are in compassionate hands.”

        “Does that mean you are my guide?”

        “Yes.  You will remember soon.  We must be going.”

        “Going where?”

        “Back home.”

        “I want to stay here.  I want to make sure they will be okay.”

        “We can wait a little bit longer.”

        “Why was life so difficult?”

        “It was the life you chose.  You wanted to experience these things because you cannot experience them when you are home.”

        “You mean I chose to go through heartbreak and be afraid of all those things and to be around all those irritating people.”  

        The man chuckles and then smiles broadly.  “Yes.  Back home there is nothing but compassion and love.”

        “Sounds wonderful”, I dryly remark.

        The man nods.  “It is.  But it would grow boring if you did not come here to understand passion, sorrow, uncertainty and courage.”

        “So I came to Earth to know how good I have it back home.”

        “No, you came to Earth to know the depths of what it meant to exist.  And might I add I think you did well in this life.”

        I turn back to look at my family and friends still consoling each other.  “They still are sad.”

        “They probably will be for a time.  It is normal.  Those on Earth get used to physical sensations and tend to grow dull on the others.”

         I reach out to touch the face of my lover.  He suddenly looks up and stares at me.  I wonder if he can see me.  “I’m still right here and I’m alright.  I’m being told I have to go but I’ll come back to see you.”  I don’t know why I said all of those things but I did.  My lover wipes a tears and smiles.  “Did he really hear me?”, I ask.

        “In a way yes.  He caught a glimpse of truth.”

        “So I helped him?”

        The man smiles again.  “In more ways than you currently understand.”

        “Then I guess I’m ready to go.”

        “Are you sure?”

        I nod, slowly.  “Will I see all these people again?”

        “You knew them before this life.  You all decided to come to Earth to help each other learn and to play with one another.”

        “Did I do that for them? Was it what we hoped for?”

        “As I said yes I believe you did a wonderful job.”

        “Then let’s go so I can remember what it was all for.”

        The man places his arm around me.  “I think you have already begun to remember.”  We turn and I linger one last look on those in my life before we walk toward the brightness.