Have you really considered me to be mad? I promise you that the story I will tell is proof enough…
My name is of zero significance; it does not matter. It was a time significantly different to today - fifty years ago to be exact. The path home was difficult, especially considering where I was. As the rain poured down my head and down to my neck, I could only feel annoyance… and sadness. Stopping, I clenched my fists. One day, I thought, is all it takes for me to get fired? One day? I stomped through the park and across the street, arguing with myself.
I could have done better.
No.
Yes, I could've.
It's all your fault.
I never saw the truck coming. I’m sure that he didn’t see me either. Still, it was like a pain I’d never felt before. Then again, a drunk driver going fifty miles per hour down a neighborhood is supposed to kill you. I managed anyway, holding on by a thread before and after the ambulance had taken me to the hospital. I still can remember the voices talking to me.
“It will soon be over; you’ll be fine.”
Then, I was There - an amazing place full of dreams. Where the bright blue sky met the luscious green grass, I saw Her in the horizon. I began to take a step before falling over. Landing on my back, I saw the empty space where my legs had once been. I sat there in shock, the only sounds being my slow, heavy breathing. Soon, I heard the slosh of Her footsteps in my blood as she approached. Picking me up, she carried me for quite a long period of time before we arrived. Upon arriving, the medical crew had taken me into their care, but not before bowing. As they took me in, She turned around and exited the building. Adjusting in my stretcher, I felt a piece of paper in my hand, I examined it, reading the message.
There was no signature, so I only knew her as Her, the princess.
I had spent weeks in the hospital even after I had healed. I noticed that She occasionally showed up outside, talking to a doctor or nurse.
"Who is he?"
"Well, he's obviously human."
"I know. But the clothing he's wearing... I haven't seen those before."
"Neither have I, but it does not matter right now. Right now, we need to keep him stable and tend to his wounds for as long as we have to.
"He will be fine, right?"
"Of course; we have the best medical experts watching him. You'll get your answers soon enough..."
She never came inside though; she never visited. Sometimes, our gazes would meet, but they were immediately shut down by countless interruptions. On the last day, though, we met. We smiled and exchanged greetings. Over her two hour stay, we did nothing besides talking. We talked about how I got there, who I was, and my origins. The princess soon found out about my predicament. She then swore to try her best to get me back, no matter the cost. I saw through her lie, but I went with it.
Within a few months, I had my legs back. The best part about being sent There was the fantasy-filled life that everyone lived, literally. With the aid of the princess’s best student, scientists were able to create a potion that had regenerative effects on any living organism. The only risk was a chance of immortality, as every part of the organism needed to be destroyed for them to truly die. They visited me in my room in the castle, presenting the concoction. Considering my stay There probably wouldn’t take long, I drank it. To pay them back for their hospitality, I enlisted in the army. I quickly became fluent with a sword, completing countless tasks and missions, and was even knighted.
The princess and I always hung out with each other, as I had no other friends, unfortunately. I always felt a great connection with her. After two years There, I asked her the ultimate question.
"Yes." She nodded.
Four years later, the palace was filled with the laughter of two toddlers running through the halls. As She and I watched, we couldn’t help but be happy for the life we lived. However, as the days went by, She became more and more distant, and the smiles began to fade. On Their fifth birthday, after I returned from another deployment, the bedsheets were filled with one more body than usual. As the streaks of red, pooling blood marked his exit, I felt betrayed, but I didn’t exactly express hatred. I couldn’t. My mind had forced emotions that I had not wanted to feel. Either way, my room was desolate that night as I ran…
And ran.
And ran!
I kept running! I never looked back at all! My heart was pumping, my blood rushing! That bitch! I didn’t cease until my legs gave out, and they would not move!
I sat in the same spot for days, simply sitting against an old oak tree. As my thoughts brewed within my head, I felt my anger at the brink of spilling over. Pure, justified anger surged through my veins. I felt that being Here was all in vain. This place was no fantasy, no dream. I have been sent here to my prison, a punishment for cheating death. Being Here is not heaven; it is my personal Hell.
My immortality has been my downfall, my weakness, but regeneration cannot heal my thoughts. Insane or not, these long, painful years have become a nail in my head. I needed a vent for my rage, but the hole has been plugged. Maybe the noose around my neck will free me. This noose may be what opens the hole.
My tale has been told, but the pages will end. Freedom from purgatory - goodbye, my friend!
