She appeared out of nowhere at the stroke of midnight, as if having emerged from within the lake; a mirage of convenience, claiming to possess the key to get me back into the kingdom. Clearly taken aback at my hesitation, she promised to lead the entire way; guiding and navigating, until I found my self once more in the fold; where she swore I belonged, where she knew I wanted to be.

I considered her proposition momentarily, but in the end decided it just wasn’t worth the wasted time and emotion, not to mention that of the pain. No, there was no going back, not now that I’d come so far; perhaps for some this was the answer, but not for me; not any more.

Too many lifetimes spent built on lies; having had my fill of traditional thinking. Not quite certain what the answer yet is, but refusing to go back to the way it was; with so-called doctors all harboring god-complexes, anxious to get their hands on you; fuck with your head, dredge up the past, reduce you to rubble and call it healing.

“Ah, but you run in circles inside your mind; thoughts that won’t stop, driving you blind; and still you keep running, closer to the edge, you won’t slow and yet you refuse to look back. Don’t you see what you’re doing, lost in this maze; it’s quite clear you’re holding out hope, for a miracle or a sage; perhaps a keen philosopher to enlighten as you find your way…”

I held up my hand and told her to “Stop!”

Enough I’ve had of fools and sages, and let us not forget wanna-be revolutionary thinkers; doing nothing but rehashing and pondering the thoughts of other great minds; having no faith, no ability to love, nor the courage to grasp that which is their own; far too busy obsessing the condition of life, listening to the voices that haunt their own minds; not giving a damn, or too self-absorbed to recognize, the damage caused in the wake of self-fulfilling process.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m doing okay; certain even that one day I’ll again find my way; without the influence, guidance or interference of another. Now if you don’t mind, please return to the lake, leave me in peace and don’t again show your face.”

Shrouded in a veil of mist, Alsyna vanished just as quickly as she appeared. I turned to make my way back toward the cabin, when something on the ground shimmered and caught my attention. I walked slowly to the waters edge, bent to retrieve the item off the ground; only to find myself standing in the moonlight, with an all-too-real key resting in my hand…