Cliff's POV
Love is our true destiny. We don't find the meaning of life ourselves alone—we find it with another.
Life—it would be meaningless if you existed just for yourself. Mom had told me once that we were born for a reason; we were born for someone. And when we find that one person, we'll recognize our purpose of living. And love, it would be the key to help us find the meaning.
All along, I thought I lived for my mom and sister. They were the only ones I loved in my entire life. Of course, they were part of my purpose in existing, but I realized that something else was missing in my life. That was until when I met her…
In this world of souls and fantasies, I found a friend. I remember going from door to door, from one realm to another and stumbled upon her world. She was crying and confused, and I couldn't bear to see her that way. I gathered my courage to talk to her, and together, we tried to get answers.
Dream world is a strange place where souls go when our physical bodies are unconscious or asleep, but it doesn't mean that we're already dead… That's what they say. We could travel from one realm to another by passing through the different floating doors around.
Ann's realm was beautiful. It's always spring time, and so everything looks vibrant and green. The hot spring, the trees, flowers, the animals and the mighty waterfall; I admire them so much.
My place was the scene when I left my hometown. It was a dark night, and snow fell heavily. The doors of every little house were locked and only the old lamp posts illuminated the roads. Ann seems to like it here, as much as I like her place. I like the winter; it's just that, it brings back the sad memory of me leaving.
Ah, enough of that. I probably should go and see her… I love seeing her crystal blue eyes and sunny smile.
She arrived here in the dream world earlier than me. Since there was no way of telling time here, she estimated that it's been two seasons of loneliness before I found her.
I slowly opened her door and peeked in. She was sitting on a tree stump near the hot spring, deep in thought. Oh, I guess I probably should leave…
"Oh, h-hey Cliff, come on in!"
Oh, she saw me. Um, I guess I should apologize for visiting. "Ummm… I'm really sorry to bother you…"
Ah, she's blushing. She really is so cute. "Ah… Ah, no, it's okay. Y-You know how I like… h-having company. It's always lonely here in dream world… and besides, we're the only ones who are friends here, right?"
I smiled at her gladly. She makes me happy. I sat down beside her absentmindedly, and then realized that I might be a little rude. "Is… is it okay for me to sit here?"
"Of course!" She let out a laugh. "It's been a number of times that we've sat beside each other, telling stories and sharing food… You don't need to be all shy and nervous, 'kay?"
She's right… I shouldn't be too nervous around her. "Thank you, Ann."
"Ah… Y-You're welcome… Oh, h-here, I found another bamboo shoot… Let's have it for, uh, breakfast."
Funny it may sound, but even souls like us get hungry. Anyhow, I invited her to look at the waterfall afterwards. It was my favorite thing in her realm.
"So you say that this is a part of your town?" I asked, watching the water fall from the top.
"Yeah… I go here every morning when I was still in the real world to relax. Besides, I gather ingredients here to take back to the inn." She sighed wistfully. She must've missed the real world.
I laughed lightly. "No wonder you know where all the bamboo shoots and herbs are located. Someday, I would want to go to your town… It's beautiful here…"
"Yeah… Hey Cliff, don't you miss your family?" You told me that you left your hometown because you didn't like it there, but you never told me about your family."
Ah, family… I miss my mother and sister. It was wrong of me to leave. Dad's already gone, and I'm the only one left to support them. My reason was too selfish… So what if I didn't like the town? That doesn't mean I have to leave my family… I wonder how they are now.
"S-Sorry for asking that…" She tugged my sleeve like a little kid. "Sorry, Cliff…"
"No, it's okay…" I tried to smile at her and turned to the waterfall. "It's just that, I realized I was so selfish… I never thought how they would be if I leave, since my dad is long gone… And yes, I really miss them..."
"So if your dad's gone… you only have your mom and siblings left, then?"
"Yeah, my mom and younger sister… I wonder how they are now… And I wonder if they already know what happened to me." I sighed.
I reached one of the neighboring towns. I wonder if they have an inn where I could stay.
"H-Hello?" I timidly knocked on a door of an inn. This was a scary place. People looked at each other suspiciously and it was very dark and grim.
Every innkeeper said the same thing. No vacant rooms.
I continued walking until from a distance, I could see torches and pitchforks. An angry mob was coming.
I turned my back and started to walk away as fast as I could, but there were some locals who caught up with me.
"Hey traveller! You wouldn't be coming from that awful town of Anchelle, wouldn't you?"
"I… I…" My lips were too cold.
"Ha! I knew it! Those clothes are made from that nasty town of dirty tax collectors!" One man said.
"You…! You, what are you doing here!" At once the mob grabbed me and tortured me—ripping my clothes, beating me up and throwing stones at me.
I tried to run away, but a burly man pulled me back and held me up, choking me. "Oh no, you don't!"
With that, he tossed me like a lightweight on a solid, cold wall of a building. The back of my head stung so badly… I could feel something streaming down on my neck… blood… Then the unbearable pain kicked in—
"C-Cliff? Are you okay?!" Ann woke me up. Ugh. The pain… it felt so real.
"Ah… n-no… I'm okay…" I panted. "The memory… of how my head hit the cold wall so badly… surfaced in my mind again. Somehow, whenever I remember it, I could feel the pain all over again."
"Oh… Um, b-but are you sure you're fine?"
"I am… thank you, Ann. You're always so thoughtful and caring." I smiled.
Ann's face was so red that she looked like a tomato. And then I realized… Ack! I was holding h-her hand!
She turned her face away. "It's n-nothing…"
I released her hand and turned to face the waterfall. Oh shoot. I hope she doesn't get mad with me after doing that… That was too sudden of me. I wouldn't want her to get angry. She's the only one I have here in this world… And I don't want to lose her. I've grown to love her.
She's told me her story. It was an argument with her father about her being a lady and not getting a boyfriend. She's never experienced loving another guy… I wonder… I don't want to assume, but… From the way she's reacting…
Oh shoot. What if she feels awkward now?
"H-Hey Ann?" I called her.
"O-Oh!" I caught her cringing and biting her bottom lip, like she was in pain.
"W-What happened? You're so pale!" I held her hands and tried to warm them. They were so cold!
"It's like… what you said… when you picture your last memory… you could feel the pain… as if you were in your own body again." She breathed restlessly. Oh shoot, please be okay…
"Easy there… Breathe, Ann… Please, be okay…" I held her hands even more securely.
"I am… I'm okay." She tried to smile. "D-Do you… Do you think we'll ever go back to the real world?"
That was the question we've always asked ourselves… Will we ever go back to the real world? If we manage to return… will I ever see her again? The thought of not seeing Ann again was upsetting. I suppose this is the time I tell her. I didn't let go of her hands.
"We might… or we might not." I started, looking down. "But you know what Ann? If we ever meet again in the real world, I will look for Mineral Town… I will look for you."
"Cliff?"
I gathered all of my courage to say my feelings. "… And when I find you, we'll go to this place, and experience the real waterfall, eat real bamboo shoots, play with real animals… We'll do these things all over again." Oh shoot. My cheeks were all hot. I faced away.
"What… why?" She looked like she was very shocked.
"Ah, Ann…" I chuckled, embarrassed. Well, I guess it is really time to say it… "It's… It's because… I've always liked you… You're so warm and caring... Now I understand… what it means to live for someone"
"G-Goodness, Cliff… I can't believe it…"
Oh shoot, she's crying! I made her cry! "Ah, uh… Um, Sorry for blurting that out! I'm sorry, Ann!"
"N-No! I mean, Cliff… I'll… I'll wait for you to find me! Like how you found me here… It's like what my dad said… And Cliff… from that day you knocked on my door and entered here… I could say love did really find me…"
"Ah… Is this r-real?" I was so happy that I embraced her. "Ha ha ha… It sounds like we're already getting married…"
"H-hey! Don't say that y-yet!" She blushed even a brighter red. "I'm still too young to marry!"
A blinding light interrupted us. It came from one of the doors. It was an unusual door, looking very divine with its golden carvings.
"Do you think…?" Her crystal blue eyes were eager.
"If this is the way back to the real world… Then, I won't forget my promise. I will look for you… and fall in love with you all over again."
I will find Ann…
I know she's my other half… The other half of my purpose in life…
We'll discover more of our lives together…
Our purpose, our reason…
"…"
I was lying on a bed, surrounded by white curtains. I could hear small voices whispering from the other side of the curtains. The place smelled of medicine… Ah… Was I… in a hospital?
"H-Hello?" I mumbled.
"Oh!" A tall nurse rushed in. "You're awake now! Wait, let me get the doctor."
"Umm… okay…" I sat straight on the bed.
"Oh, hello traveller." A plump woman wearing a doctor's coat came in. "Before anything else, let me check your vital signs… Mhmm… Okay… Wow, this is… interesting… you're perfectly normal!"
"Ah… W-Where am I? Am I still… in Treesk town?"
"Not anymore..." The doctor sighed of relief. "My nurse and I happened to pass by that place that night, and saw the commotion. We quickly drove you back here in our village and treated your injury…"
"T-Then!" I bowed my head. "I owe my life to the two of you, doctor! T-Thank you so much..!"
"Oh, you're most welcome… It is our duty to save lives, you know." She smiled kindly. "I think I've actually witnessed a miracle in you…"
"H-Huh? Why?"
"Because, my boy," Her face turned serious. "That was one severe injury you had. The back of your head was bleeding that night. I thought you'd never make it alive here, but you did. You fell into a coma, and now, you're perfectly well, and don't seem to suffer from amnesia… You do remember your name and everything else, right?"
"Y-yes, I do…"
"Well, it was worth taking care of you for two seasons then." The nurse joined in. "With your injury, we thought it would take a year or so before you wake up, but then here you are."
"S-So it's summer…?"
They nodded.
"Ah… I need to go… to Anchelle Town… my family needs me…" I mumbled, quickly standing up.
They were reluctant to see me go, since I just woke up from a coma. I reassured the doctor and the nurse that I was perfectly fine. They gave me a generous discount on paying for everything they've done to me.
I hurried back to my hometown, only to find out that my only reason for living is gone.
"Your mom… she passed away weeks ago." A neighbor informed me. "And your sister moved away. No one knows where she is."
I have always believed that I was born to support my mother and sister. And now that they're gone… What am I living for now? Do I still have a reason to live?
Strangely though, a dim and blurry image of a person surfaced in my mind the minute I asked myself.
And why do I feel like that I've somehow been happy here in Anchelle? I've never enjoyed this place… And it felt like there was someone beside me, all this time.
I continued to trudge along the dead roads of Anchelle town and ended up wandering from town to town, looking for my sister, looking for answers. Summer and autumn went by so swiftly… The climate has become much cooler now, since in a few days, it would be winter. I was about to leave Ottershore town when a barker of a boat caught my attention.
"Leavin' for Mineral Town at ten! Mineral Town!"
Mineral Town…?
Why does it seem sort of familiar?
Without thinking, I bought a ticket and took the trip. Three days after, we reached the shores of Mineral Town. It was a heavy snowfall today; it was sure cold out.
I walked around the beach, and saw that there was nothing much to see, since the sleet covered everything white. I continued to tread my way to find a place to stay. I reached a plaza that had three paths for me to choose: West, North and East.
Well, might as well take a tour around while it's still day time, though it's already a bit dark since the current weather doesn't actually make the place really bright.
I took the west road and walked on. I passed by a ranch, a poultry farm, and there was a path going to the mountains and another path which led back to the other part of the village.
I don't know why, but my feet took me to the mountains instead. I passed by a little house which had a sign "Woodcutter's House". I walked a little farther and reached another path which led to a small hill.
This hill… it was so familiar. And what's weirder is that the sound coming from it was a lot too familiar too.
When I reached the top of the hill, there was a hot spring, scattered tree stumps, boulders and a waterfall. For some reason, I suddenly felt happy and nostalgic, as if I've always wanted to go here. There were very faint memories… What was clear to me was the emotion behind those memories: Happiness.
I shook my head and trudged back to town. This time, I took the trail leading to what seemed like an abandoned farm. I walked straight ahead, and passed by a few shops and homes. Eventually, I ended up in front of the church.
I knocked, but no one opened the door. Meekly, I let myself in and looked around.
"Ah, a traveller?" A man with smiling eyes in a black robe asked me.
"Y-Yes… Um, you are…?"
"I am the pastor in this town, Pastor Carter." He said. "Are you looking for a place to stay?"
"Y-Yes…"
"If you go straight from here, you'll reach Rose Square, and then take the north opening. That will lead you to the inn…" Ah, so the west route leads to this, and the north one to the inn. "What is your name?"
"My n-name is Cliff… Thank you, Pastor." I nodded.
"You're welcome… and I hope you find your purpose of life here in Mineral Town." He bid goodbye as I left.
My… purpose?
For quite some time, I think I knew all along why I exist. I felt that I already know who I was born for… But...
I made my way to the inn. I hadn't realized that it was night time already. My hands grew numb from the icy weather. Pushing open the inn doors, merriment and warmth welcomed me. The locals and tourists were drinking and eating delightfully and seemed to have a good time.
"Welcome!" A friendly, orange-haired man greeted me from the counter. "Is it your first time 'ere?"
"Y-yes, sir…"
"Well, welcome to Mineral Town boy!" He hollered.
Ah, this man is very warm and kind… Much like someone I think I know. "T-Thank you… Um, is there a vacant room, sir?"
"There's always one for every weary traveller." He nodded with a grin. He then looked behind me, and said aloud, "Oh Ann, here, we have a new tenant, please lead him to the guest room."
"Yes of—"
She stopped midsentence when I turned to face her. Her crystal blue eyes were probably as surprised as mine.
What's this? Why do I feel that I know her? Why do I feel an unusual happiness? Why are the blurry memories rising again in my mind?
Who… Who is this girl?
"Ah, um. W-Welcome. Please, follow me…" Her voice brought me back to reality.
Ah, what am I thinking? This is the first time I've come to this town and the first time I've seen this orange-haired girl as well. Maybe I'm just seeing my sister in her. Yeah, that may be it… That's why I feel sort of attached to her as soon as our eyes met…
Although… I wonder… Have we ever met in a dream?