Chapter 1
I took a deep exhale as I completely embraced the beauty that surrounded me. I aligned my spine with the extensive oak tree that sat in the middle of the field. Surrounded by flowers that held an indescribable essence that could only be described in the heavens. I buried my eyes in the illustrious view of the silk sky, making out different images with only the clouds to use as my muse. The illuminating sun’s rays completely soaked into my skin, there was no better feeling.
I broke my gaze from the sky in order to take in the remaining wonders this place held. I could not help but bring my attention back to the flowers. A variety galore. I inserted all my focus into making out the specific florets that stood before me. Daisies, orchids, poppies, dahlias, were just some of the few I recognized. My mother was infatuated with them all throughout my childhood; thus resulting in me picking up a devotion towards them. Out of the pool of flowers, one seemed to have dulled out its competing peers. A single ravishing velvet red rose had alienated itself, giving me no choice but to make it mine. I grabbed it by the middle of the stem, mindfully avoiding the possibility of a thorn, and swiftly snapped it, detaching it from the ground. A drop of water slowly trickled down my hand. I brought the rose up to my nose and stole a deep whiff of the elixir of the compelling fragrance it concealed within its petals. I was in paradise.
Taking in my last enchanting whiff, I placed the flower down on my right thigh. I glanced back up at my initial wonder of the sky, the atmosphere so clear. The fluffy porcelain clouds reminded me almost of marshmallow fluff surfing the sky. I consumed the view before me, watching the clouds drift past. Each cloud was more unique than the other. As I gazed at the clouds, I made out the shape of a bird, followed by a dog, and each image grew more complicated than the other. I graduated from pointing out single objects, to whole scenarios. The pictures of the sky turned into blockbuster movies.
I continued to personify the sky, all while still recognizing the blanket of warmth the sun brought out. I felt the warm tingles soaking into my skin, bringing nothing less than comfort; when suddenly an abrupt gust of bone shattering wind stole that feeling. This energy didn’t match the rest of my haven, this was dark. Startled, I studied my surroundings , registering the changes going on around me. The sky went from a lively blue color with images, to a devastating night sky that looked as though it brought mischievous intentions. The clouds grew double in size, acquiring a dark gray in hue. There were no longer playful illustrations hiding in the clouds, just masses of madness.
My anxiety grew, as I watched the gorgeous flowers start to wilt into a botanical graveyard. The petals started dropping like bodies in the second World War, shriveling up before they even hit the ground. The eminent field that once brought me joy turned into a nightmare. At that moment, I looked back at the flower that had swept me off my feet at first glance, and was shattered to see it deteriorate into a dismorphed figure. “What the fuck?, I muttered to myself in an attempt to process what was actively going on around me. The only thing that hadn’t altered at all was the oak tree, physically at least. However, I didn’t feel as though it was supporting me anymore. I felt as though the tree now towered over me, ready to swallow me whole at the first chance it got.
I scoped the area one more time in a sad attempt, hoping it would change back to the initial scenery, but to no surprise, it didn’t. The sky stayed the same, except there were now street lights illuminating the area. The dead flowers morphed into patches of dry patchy grass. Though, some new items started to show up, such as a bench disguised by burnt rust, a dumpster that relinquished the most godforsaken of smells, and scattered food wrappers. I felt an overwhelming sense of depression as I was stripped of the highest point I could be at, as I had seen God’s palace with my own eyes. Everything looked so dull. The remaining item I couldn’t help but think about was that rose that held an incomprehensible beauty. Feeding my curiosity, I glanced back at my lap to find that there was crystalized white power where the petals used to lay and the stem was now a glass pipe which held tar marks in the bowl.
The last thing I had to look for was a lighter. A few moments passed before I came across an acquaintance who called himself “Snowhead”. He’s said to have been granted the name through his entrepreneurship regarding opioids, but the irony lied in the fact that his hair was almost translucent from how light it was. I knew he could supply me with what I needed. I set out to catch his attention by shouting, “Snowhead!” Recognizing my voice, before seeing me he shouted back, “My favorite son of a bitch, where are you?” I waved my arms frantically, allowing him to see me through the dim light laying out in front of the oak tree I always seem to reside at. He strived over to me, almost as if he knew exactly why I sought him out. He came over and we exchanged small talk. As we continued in conversation, Snowhead peered over at my lap and saw the goods. Before I could end my latest sentence, Snowhead cut me off saying, “You need a light?”, in a voice that seemed as if it came out of pity. I ignored it, because at the moment all I cared about was getting a lighter. I nodded, as he reached into his jacket pocket pulling it out. “You can keep it, I got to go run some plays”, he said as he walked off.
Without hesitation, I picked up the powder and inserted it into the butt of the pipe. I then got the lighter and sparked it a few times before it finally let out a glow that gave me a sensation of relief. I shakingly placed the pipe in between my lips, and gave it a good light. I took a deep breath, inhaling the solution to all of my problems. Deeply exhaling, I looked around as I saw the flowers start to sprout again. I was back at my paradise.
