Portkey

On a humble hummock, I was running,
with the soft grass of the pasture gently kissing my feet.
I was panting and my pupils were dilated. I was running; away from something.
That something was closing on me and my pace was quickening.
I was panicking and cold beads of sweat was breaking on my brow.

I wanted to stop and evaluate my situation. But I wasn't even sure if I was in reality.
A rush of thoughts suddenly inundated my mind while I almost got inured to the running.
It was there again. That dreaded motley of illusions and thoughts.
My heart raced, partly due to the running and partly to oxygenate my brain to bring me out of that insanity.

Renewed fear gripped me. I was bound to fear in dual realms and there was no escape.
The never ending chase game tired my mind more than my body. My shifting thoughts offered no peace either.

I was sinking into darkness. Just in my mind though. On the pasture, the inky-black dusk with its orangish-pinkish horizons stayed forever. It wouldn't budge, like my thoughts and the chasing form.

I was running in loop, plain scared. Where was I? What was I? When was I? Was I lost in the labyrinth of time? Was I in the vortex of a vicious hallucination? Am I? Is there? Will I? Should I? CAN I?

I wanted to fall. I wanted to give up. I wanted my predator to devour me. I wanted to yield to my thoughts. I wished there was no I.

Like an expanding universe, my time was blown out of proportion. Each second took ages to elapse, worsening my state, landing a blow in the pit of my stomach each time.

And finally it happened. I was trapped in time. Like tiny insects trapped in glacial air bubbles millions of years ago.

The shadow that followed me ceased to exist. My mind lost its thoughts and instead harboured a cacophony of strange voices that had only one thing in common - pain. In fact, the dusk finally managed to vanish, painting a uniform dark gloom over the area, blurring bounds and horizons. I finally noticed that gravity was losing hold over me, occasionally letting my feet float. I did not care about any of that. I sat down and tried to get lost in my solace. I knew, however, the return would be tough. I did not care about that either.

The settling point was no where to be seen. Purpose, esteem, joy were as imaginary as Pandora. I tried and tried. I wasn't sure what I was trying for or why? I felt like I was on the moon, as each step flew me up and every single time I was petrified if I'll fall back or glide out to ends of the world. After a prolonged, frustrated eternity, I found a beacon. It was no larger than a laser pointer. It was distant, but I made up my mind to follow it.

As I moved towards it, I realised it was more than just a beacon. It was a wormhole. It was a rescue vehicle that'd end my misery and guide me home. I ran faster and faster. I was suddenly happy. I was bathed in warm hope. Gravity was restored. The wormhole was far and I knew suddenly that I don't need to be rescued after all. I realised my worth, my potential and my purpose. It came to me as a subtle enlightenment. And then like a piece of glass shattering into a gazillion shambles, the horizon broke out of the dark canvas and formed a shining new lining exposing the horizon again.

And soon, there was the most glorious sun rise of my entire life. It shone bright on my eyes and my eyelids were almost transparent compared to its might. I wriggled and squinted. My body twisted and I rubbed my eyes hard and gently opened my eyes to find myself on my bed. I was there in the present again. It was time to wake up, embrace life and move on.