Dating : castle in the sky.

Emilia had been living in the castle her whole life. Up in the sky, she rarely got a glimpse of what was beneath the clouds but she tried not to wonder too much as her mother made a very clear emphasis that curiosity would only end in a catastrophic result.

Throughout her childhood, Emilia had been told that her mother had the castle built to stray away from the darkness that embraced whatever was beneath the clouds. Her mother would sit beside her on the carpeted purple floors beside the fireplace, the flames casting colourful shadows across her face as she told frightful stories of what rested below.

“Dark shadows in the shapes of people roam the forests,” Her mother would whisper, her soft grey eyes would often darken as she tauntingly told her tale. “They follow you until they find the perfect time to strike.”

Emilia had grown out of that story, but that didn’t stop her from wondering what lay below her castle. In one of the books in the library, she had read somewhere that the clouds would cry upon the people and there was music and dancing on special nights. While Emilia let herself daydream about what became of the people below, she refused to get carried away — after all, her mother knew what was best for her.

On her eighteenth birthday, Emilia woke up to a gentle mellow breeze, the wind warming her skin that had cooled in the night. She couldn’t hear much besides the shifting of satin sheets and her curtains ruffling in the draft as she slid off her bed, the loose floorboards creaking as she gently placed her feet down, standing up.

Every day was the same. Her mother would knock on the door, a grin covering her face as she watched Emilia take her breakfast: a vitamin, and a cup of water. Yesterday, Emilia had secretly skipped the vitamin. It didn’t feel like they did anything so Emilia secretly placed the vitamin below her tongue and spit it out when her mother left.

Today, however, was not like yesterday or the day before. When her mother didn’t appear, the sky suddenly turned dark and the lights around Emilia’s room flicked on one by one. “Mother?” Emilia called out, only to have the sound of wind respond back. “Hello?”

She went down to the first floor, the only sound being her feet meeting the concrete stairs as she reached the main hallway, only to find it empty. As she reached the giant double doors at the front of the castle, Emilia gasped as she heard continuous laughter surround the room. She was quite sure no other person had ever been in the castle before, yet why did the laughter feel so nearby?

The sky was still dark, and her mother was nowhere to be found. Nervously, Emilia grabbed the door handle on the big front door. With the castle above the sky, Emilia would often look out the window and watch as her mother climbed down stairs until she disappeared under the clouds. When her mother would come back, she would always remind Emilia that the door was only for her, and no questions would be asked. Emilia had always followed those rules and planned to… until someone laughed again. And again.

Emilia shook her head, her palms sweaty and slippery as she pushed the door open, shutting her eyes tight. She took a step forward, anticipating the cold stairs but instead, a field of grass lay before her. She gasped, her eyes widening and her heart pounding as she looked behind her, the castle now a small cozy cottage.

Emilia’s hands trembled as she took another step forward. In front of her were trees and a river, things she only imagined could exist in books. The river glowed blue, and the leaves on the trees glowed a bright gold. In the background, a light strum of the guitar surrounded her senses, a tune so similar to the one her mother had taught her as a child.

She took another step forward, and her scenery changed. The trees and the river sludged together and swirled until she blinked. No more was she in a field surrounded by nature. Instead, she was now on a stone path, cottages so similar to the one she had stepped out of lining the two sides.

The laughter began again, and suddenly a circle of people appeared, each and every one of them laughing and dancing as a woman on the side played her guitar. Emilia’s fondness grew in her heart as she stared at the people. All of them wore simple clothing, what seemed like either tunics or dresses and their hands were held together as they began jumping in a circle, smiles lighting up their faces.

Emilia looked up, gasping as she saw clouds above her. Suddenly, the tales that she had been told dissolved in the back of her mind. All her worries washed away as she yearned to dance just like the people in front of her. Everything here seemed so much warmer compared to her cold castle up in the clouds.

Just as she neared the people and reached a hand out to join their festivities, everyone exploded into little golden sparkles around her, each slightly burning her virgin skin as her vision faded.

Another gasp.

Emilia’s eyes shot open, the same gentle breeze brushing against her skin. And then a knock, as her mother came in with a vitamin in hand and a cup of water, her smile now making Emilia’s stomach tie a knot.

“Breakfast is ready.”