Dark Key

was shredded into the lowest depths of hell. This very same window was a portal to my past from where I would relive all my days of youth, of my happiness, of the peace. Reddened skies. Collapsing buildings. Swirling smoke emitting from every distance far and near. And what did I survive on? Hope?! Hope was a cruel fantasy that never existed on this hellish nightmare of a world. All I had was memory after beautiful memory of what this plane of destruction had once been. I fed on them, clung onto them, desperately revisiting every scenery, every face, every hour, every second... I watch as my life flashes in front of me.A bright sunlight pierces through the window as rosy red curtains are thrust aside, welcoming in the gentle swish-swashing of the sea. As the searing pain of light settles on my eyes I take an immediate refuge under my blanket cover, barricading myself from the outer world. I wait motionless as the outside predator homes in for the attack, clutching the blanket tighter with every nearing footstep. “Come on honey, chop chop you don’t want to be late for school again.” reasons my mother wrestling the blanket off me, “Your father’s doing breakfast, you don’t want to miss the big event!” “Okay, I’ll be downstairs in 10 minutes.” I respond. Flinging my feet over the side of the bed, the frosty coldness of the hard stiff floor infiltrates my skin sending tingles spiralling up my spine adding to my longing of my warm fuzzy bed. Struggling up, the sweet oaky aroma of the house fills my nostrils. Almost seductively beckoning me forwards, slapping on the uniform I brush my teeth with half open eyes.Rushing downstairs I’m consumed by the fumes of a cremated breakfast with smoke detectors shrieking like sirens overhead. I stood frantic with laughter watching as my panicked father pranced about like a crazed clown, tripping over dishes and pans in his attempt to make a simple breakfast of toast on eggs.The view becomes blurred and the scene changes to a tall intimidating figure. “You there, yes you.” scowled the headmaster with that sickeningly clam voice, pointing a meatless finger towards me. His sharp but solemn voice always sent my spine rigid in fear. The headmaster himself was a tall, bony man with slick oily hair that he always pulled back and had a nose a witch could envy. “Yes sir?” I replied “Tuck your shirt in, this is a school not a wild animal display.” I didn’t know what disturbed me more, his terrible metaphoric language or his terrible metaphoric language. I resorted to following his orders before being drowned in overly exaggerated metaphors. “ And if I ev-” RING RIIIIING RIIIIIIIIIIIIING! Suddenly the usually horrendous explosion of bells detonating through the school signalling the day to an end sounded of sweet nightingale chirruping their sweet song. Saved by the bell. A sphere of light moves in closer and closer until I’m temporarily blinded. Upon opening my eyes I find myself overlooking the beach of my childhood, the very sands that contained every echoes of my laughter and speech. I took a step onto the blistering beach; my feet sizzled slowly over the golden sands glittering under the sun hanging over my head like a raised medal. A heavenly breeze whirled in the air, flowing through my bare chest filling my every part. I closed my eyes inhaling deeply. A sharp tinkling laughter permeated through the airs; opening my eyes I realise it’s Alex – the love of my life - laughing as I stood in the open air in a crucified position. I turned dumb-founded as Alex’s overwhelming beauty mesmerised me once more. I dreamt of Alex gently skipping along the seaside, darkening the sun with a star-sparkling smile.Then as if a claw had run through my heaven I was ripped back into the reality of a shrivelled old man gazing outside at the view from outside my bedroom window in a war infested world.