DAYDREAMS

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DREAMING might be the word that would best explain how young Dei feels at the current moment. This was the first time that her parents brought her to a different city, a big one at that. She used to see this scenery through her TV screen, and it never fails to amaze her little mind. They don’t have this many buildings back in their hometown, their city is rich in farmlands, so this is a new feeling to her.

She watched the tallest building from the distance reflect the sunlight as their car moved past it. She was really curious how they built it that tall when the big men she’s seen can’t even reach their ceiling with their heads. Which made her turn to her Dad who’s driving, “Dada, how did they build that building over there?” she mumbled.

Mr. Evans took a glance at the building she was referring to, while she waited patiently for her Dad to answer “Just like how you build your blocks, hunny. You go from the bottom to the top, right?”

She thought about it, which still didn’t make sense. Is there a man bigger than the building that is able to place the pieces together like how she builds her blocks? She wasn’t able to get the answer she was looking for when her attention was diverted to the tall metal gates in front of their car, there were many men holding guns by the gate.

Dei cannot read yet, so she wasn’t able to read the signs in front. She just stayed silent as her Dad tapped something outside the car, and the gates moved to the sides, giving her access to see what is hidden behind the tall walls and gates. It was even bigger on the inside, and there was another gate that they passed through before a huge white building was seen.

She thought the men outside were a lot, but there are even more men with guns in here. This time, there are also people wearing white dress-like clothes walking around. She recognized that clothes, it was the same thing her parents wear when they go to work. She forgot what it is called, maybe she’ll ask her mom about it later.

They walked and walked, too many steps for her to count. She’s already tired from all the walking, and her parents aren’t even stopping. Where are they going?

“Dada, can you carry me? I’m tired.” Dei pouted, spreading her arms wide in the air for her Dad to carry her like he always does. Mr. Evans smiled before giving in to his daughter. Once she’s in her Dad’s arms, her parents continued walking for a few minutes. They stopped from time to time to greet their friends. Just when Dei thought that her parents probably had to go around the whole building, they stopped by the elevator, she felt it going down. She giggled at the weird feeling when the elevator moved, it was like a part of her body was left behind.

When the elevator opened, they were greeted by a bald man. “Pleasant morning, Mr. Valdez.” her Dad said to the man. “Pleasant morning to you too, Mr. and Mrs. Evans.” They walked even more, talking about things she cannot understand, before stopping by a big metal door. Her dad finally placed her on her feet, her Mom crouched down to reach her.

“You go with Mr. Valdez to the playroom, hun. Mama and Dada will just talk to the grown ups inside this room, okay?” Her mom smiled at her, reaching for the strands of hair that were getting in the way of her face.

She nodded, she heard the word ‘Play’ so she couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Mr. Valdez held her tiny hands, guiding her. She looked back at her parents, waving at them. “We’ll see you later! Behave okay?” Dei waved back, before they disappeared into the room.

She looked up at Mr. Valdez, the lights shining on his bald head which made her giggle. He looks like the lamp she has in her bedroom. Mr. Valdez stopped by a glass door, she saw a big room with tons of toys in it.

How come her parents won’t bring her with them to work if they have this room here? She thought to herself.

Mr. Valdez opened the door for her, he didn’t get inside though. “Stay here.” That was all he said to the little girl before leaving the room. Dei didn’t put much thought into it, she just ran to the toys that were spread out on the floor. There was a table full of art materials, calling her attention.

Her parents always give her what she wants, she has a separate room just for her toys. That is how many things she has. But she always pays more attention to her art materials. She likes to draw, she usually draws different places to use as a background when she plays with her dolls. To make it look like they are going to different places.

She was so busy dipping her brush in red paint that she didn’t notice that another kid entered the playroom. He silently watched her move her hand, struggling to hold the brush because they are too big for her tiny hand. He heard her sigh, before dropping the brush.

“Hello.” he greeted, Dei jumped. Not expecting someone to talk behind her.

“Oh, you scared me.” she smiled, “Hi!” but she waved back at him.

“Are your Mama and Dada inside the room with the adults too?” Dei asked, that’s what she can think of. Maybe this is where they send kids while they talk about things.

“Yeah. They told me to wait here.” The guy walked towards the bucket of trains, sitting down on the floor, picking a few trains to play with. Dei just watched him as he was busy playing on his own.

“Do you want to play?” Dei asked, he just looked at her, before nodding. So she scooted over in front of him, carrying the basket of blocks she found.

“I’ll make the houses, you make the streets, okay?” Dei instructed. She put the blocks in the middle so he can also get some. For a few minutes, they were both silent, just busy creating their own world.

The boy stood up, looking at their little town. “Something is missing.” he said, which made Dei stand up as well. There really was. And she knows what it exactly needs. “I know.” she said, going back to the canvas that is across the room. The boy followed her, he saw her picking up the same brush she was holding a while earlier. The one she struggles holding.

He looked around for a brush that is smaller, finding one in the basket behind the paint cans. He took it, “Here, use this.” her eyes glowed, seeing the perfect brush. “Thank you.” she went back to painting while he just watched her. Wondering what it is that she’s doing to solve the missing problem in their little town.

Dei scribbled there for about five minutes, she thought their town was missing some scenery so that is what she painted. She’s used to open fields with green grass and hills in the distance since that is her view from her bedroom window, so that is what she drew. She also drew some skies and of course, the sun. Once she was done, she reached for the canvas, and the boy helped her, seeing as the thing was too big for her to carry to the other side of the room. They placed it against the wall, moving the houses and streets they built a bit closer. “There, it looks better now.” she smiled, seeing their creation. She thought the boy was good for building a little fountain in the middle of their town.

“Yeah. Your drawing was good too.” he smiled at her, which made her smile. She thought he was emotionless, so she was surprised when he smiled.

They were playing, when the door opened. Which made them stop what they were doing to look at the door. Dei was hoping it was another kid so she has more playmates.

“Oh! They’re playing!” the woman wearing the same thing as my parents, but with a thing around her neck. She doesn’t know what it was called but she usually sees her Mom place it on her chest when she’s sick, her Mom said it was used to listen to my heart.

The same woman took out her phone, before a bright flash illuminated the room. Oh, I wasn’t able to smile. I didn’t know she wanted to take a picture, my Mom always wants me to smile when she takes pictures of me. Dei thought to herself.

“Mom.” The boy beside her stood up, he looked like he didn’t like what his mother did. But she just giggled.

“Dei, let’s go.” Her Mom called her, so she stood up and walked beside her mother. Dei felt a bit sad, she was having fun playing with her new friend. She doesn’t want to go home yet.

She didn’t even get to say goodbye to him as her Mom pulled her outside. Where there is the same bald guy but he’s with another man that has gray hair. They are talking with her Dad outside. They started walking, but Dei made sure to look back inside the playroom. She saw him waving his hand at her, so Dei did the same. His parents were holding him by his shoulder.

“I hope I can play with him again next time.” Dei mumbled to herself. Which made the gray haired guy turn to look at her. “Oh! You must be Dei?” He smiled at her.

Dei just nodded, she was still feeling sad for their interrupted playtime. She doesn’t usually get playmates at home since their neighbors are too far. Her parents don’t let her out of their land too, so she cannot meet children her age. This is why she’s excited to go to the academy, maybe she’ll get a friend there.

They entered another room, a similar room to what her Dad’s office looked like, where he gets to check on other sick people. But this one is bigger, full of glass, and there are screens everywhere. There is a chair in the middle, while a few doctors are scattered across the room.

“Darling, will you please take a seat at that chair over there?” the gray haired man said, she turned to her mother, asking if she should follow the man. Afterall, her mother told her never to talk to strangers, and this man is a stranger to her. The man who asked her laughed, realizing his mistake. “Where are my manners. Hello Dei, my name is Gregory, but you can just call me Greg.” he smiled.

“Hello, Greg.” Dei replied, she still felt uneasy so she looked at her mother. She instructed her to sit at the chair Greg was talking about. So she followed, it was too high for her so one of the doctors carried her before placing her down.

She watched her parents as they stood behind one of the screens, talking to Greg. Her parents gave her a reassuring smile, while Greg nodded at one of the doctors.

“Please lay down, and answer our questions.” the same guy who carried her asked, he was holding a clipboard this time.

All Dei can do is nod, she feels scared. But her parents are there so she knows they won’t harm her. ′Just answer their questions right? I can do that.′ She thought.

“What is your full name?”

“My name is Dei Revas Evans.” she answered, playing with her fingers as she lay on the chair. While they were asking her, they were also checking her eye with a light.

“How old are you?”

“I’m fou–five.” She smiled at her little mistake, she just turned five recently, so she still gets confused with her age.

“Okay, please close your eyes, Dei.” Still a bit confused, Dei looked at her mom, she just nodded at her. So she closed her eyes. Trying to feel her surroundings, even more scared.

They told her it was a routine check up for her health so she shouldn’t be scared, and her parents can’t really fathom telling her what they are really doing to her anyways, so they just lied.

She suddenly felt a sting by her neck, which made her cry.

“It hurts!” she cried, opening her eyes that were filled with tears. Looking for her parents. Mrs. Evans took a step, trying to get close to her daughter who’s crying due to the pain from the thing they injected into her neck, but Mr. Evans held her arm to stop her from going. All they can do is just watch their daughter slowly fade to sleep, as the doctors around her did their readings.

For Dei, that was the last time she felt okay as everything around her suddenly took a turn after that visit at her parents’ workplace.

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