I Don't Want To Leave

A Vignette By MulticoloredGypsy

~*"Why oh why didn't I take the blue pill?" There are some who never had to regret…*~

You follow the woman with dark hair and dark clothes. But her eyes are light and clear and beautiful like the ocean. Beautiful, but cold as ice. No words are exchanged.

She leads you up the endless stairs until you come to a door. It looks dirty and ready to collapse at the slightest touch. The woman speaks.

"Don't lie to him." She looks at the door. "He'll know whether or not you speak the truth."

Her hand touches the door - still intact - and pushes it open. You walk into a dark room. The woman gives you one final glance with her cold eyes before disappearing through another door.

Only now do you notice the man sitting in the dusty red chair. Beneath the layers of black fabric he is strong and muscular. He removes the sunglasses from his deep brown eyes and smiles.

"Greetings."

You nod, too intimidated to speak. Me motions to the chair identical to his.

"Come. Sit down. I can imagine you know who I am."

You tell him his name and sit down.

"You're scared?" He asks. "Why is that?"

You tell him you do not know what he wants from you? You are afraid of what they will do to you. His smile widens.

"Do not fear us. Fear what you cannot see."

You do not understand what he means.

"You are trapped inside a prison that you will never be able to escape without our help. That prison is the Matrix."

You ask him how you can escape and what is it you are escaping to.

He nods. "You are clever. You ask good questions. I will answer what I can."

He tells you that you have been in this prison your entire life, just like everyone else. He tells you that you can escape to the real world.

You pretend you understand.

"Your escape will not be comfortable. There will be pain. If you chose to escape, you will feel pain for the rest of your life, not all of it being physical."

You ask him why there is pain?

"Machines have enslaved you. They do not want you to escape, and they will try to stop you. They will try to kill you. If it isn't for us," He smiles again. "They will succeed."

You nod. You are beginning to understand.

"This is only the beginning. You can't possibly understand it all."

He pulls out a small container and draws two pills from inside; one red, one blue.

"If you chose freedom, along with the benefits and consequences, take the red pill. I believe you are ready. But if you do not wish to continue, you want to wake up and everything will be normal, take the blue pill and you will never see or hear from us again."

He extends his open palms to you. Red or blue, fire and ice.

Fire burns you, nothing will be left of you but ash.

Ice preserves you. Your body will remain where it has always been.

"All of this is the truth. I do not lie to you. It is hard to believe, but it is also hard to just walk away from something you feel strongly for."

You do not want pain. You do not want to suffer. You do not want to know a world other than the world you are living in. Despite the dreams, the haunted thoughts, your life is perfect.

This man terrifies you.

You reach forward and take the blue pill without hesitation.

He looks at you, unblinking, waiting for you to change your mind, to realize the mistake you're making. But you don't.

The water, cold as ice, washes the pill down.

His face falls and he stands up.

"It was your decision. There is nothing more to be said."

He extends a hand and pulls you out of your seat.

"You cannot change your mind. We will no longer be part of your life."

With a parting nod, he turns and leaves through the same door the dark woman went through.

You are alone. You are safe.

You are free.

Over*