FOURTH ROUND Username: Rat
Name: Dorrin
Gender: Male
Story: words are illusion and space
I think I went quite a bit over the word limit, sorry!!
Far, far away, in a place forgotten by both time and space (but never by the heart), lay the dreams of a young boy. A faint coating of dust mutes the once bright colours abundant in the child's four-walled kingdom, but the memories made there remain crisp. A sign on the door proclaims it 'Dorrin's Room', a clumsy UFO dotting the 'i' as if added on later by a small child. The northern wall is devoted entirely to large windows, with a 'Budding Astronomer' telescope precariously propped up on the windowsill. Slight indentations on each size show where the boy gripped onto the sides in his excitement to plot a new star or constellation, and scratches show the multiple tantrums he's thrown when it's been taken away. A billboard above his bed (the inspiration for which, he is not afraid to admit, was taken from Flat Stanley - always good to have a backup plan for an exciting life!) displays every UFO sighting he could get his paws on, as well as some more cryptic notes possibly from his mother such as 'orange juice?' and 'where is your laundry!'. Taking pride of place in the centre of the board shines a holographic UFO sticker, tacked there with sticky tape as its adhesive has long since run out from being a feature of every outfit he wore for almost a month. The rest of the room is filled with the typical clutter and knicknacks that any person can collect, from books to stationary to grubby washing. Yet despite the bric-a-brac and character strewn throughout the room, it felt empty. The most important feature was missing - there was no child.
Indeed, Dorrin was no longer the tiny kit who used to live here - in fact, 'here' didn't exist any more - not in the conventional way, at least. The house was sold and the room renovated into a study for the new tennants. The mind, however, is a strange and wonderful place, where anything is possible - and this room certainly has a special place in Dorrin's heart. Why, then, is everything so dusty? And why, when you rattle the doorknob, is the door locked shut? Dorrin is the master of this illusion - nothing happens without his consent. And so it is into Dorrin's life we must dive if we ever want answers (or, more pressingly, a way out). Every object here is a memory - which will you choose to unlock?
1)
The slightly lopsided, cardboard rocketwith the clear marksmanship of an enthusiastic but not particularly skilful child
2)
The physics excercise book, open to a page on gravity adorned with a gold star and 'Great work, Dorrin!' in teacher's handwriting.
3)
Tbe party invitation, creased and with scratch marks on it as if picked up and tossed aside in anger.
--
Having viewed these three illusions, you feel as if you understand Dorrin's situation. The dusty room is what is left of his childhood memories, of his hope and wonder and curiosity - he is afraid to feel such things again, to embrace his passion only for it to be shot down again and again. Yet you can't imagine how such a kind soul could function without these things. What is there to life without something to be excited for, without the joy and faith from you youth? How could you live such a life? These philosophies are why you can't quite be sorry for what happens next. Your reminiscing makes you distracted, and distraction makes you clumsy - you trip over a stray book and send dust and objects flying. It seems your flailing limbs are brushing every object in the room, and memories flash by your eyes faster than you can even begin to process them. Such a commotion can't be ignored, even through the strongest of locks.
"No!" you hear a voice shout. "Please! I'm afraid!"
It's too late. The door bursts open, and out hurtles all the pain of these memories, yes, but also all the goodness - all the joys of being a child with something they love. All the hours of dedication, the determination and the self-belief.
You tumble out of the door, swept away by the sheer force of emotion, and escape back into the real world. You leave their mind with a final thought, and you're unsure if it was your own or his - 'And suddenly, that place that was so far, far away was closer than ever before'. And you smile, because already you can see Dorrin bustling off to find a telescope and plot the latest star positions. Sometimes, it's okay to stay the same - even if it hurts, you can never fix what isn't broken - only change it, and not always for the better.