They Speak of Paradise
The brightest of skies illuminated the boundless realm sprawling before the girl. She rubbed her eyes, gazing upon the verdant pastures that stretched infinitely around her. Flowers of every color decorated the landscape, unidentifiable fauna inlaid with the most beautiful of patterns. Only a river surrounded the area. The world was unimaginably open as far as the girl could see. This picturesque land could only be described as something akin to a fairytale.
“Where am I?” she asked nobody in particular.
Curiosity was the only thing that came to her mind as she observed this completely unfamiliar world. Every single thing about this place was foreign. Sounds of the blowing wind and the flowing river serenaded the valley, yet an odd feeling of silence still stood at the forefront of her mind. It was as if something was wrong, or maybe missing altogether. She felt no happiness at waking up in this foreign place, yet a feeling of distress was similarly absent. Only wonder and confusion held the reins of her mind.
Just as she finished taking in her immediate surroundings, a disturbance caught her attention. The girl looked to the vast sky, squinting her eyes at a descending figure. A figure of pure beauty floated gracefully on a pair of elegant white wings. An angel, one with a head of similarly pure white hair, came from the heavens to greet the girl.
“Welcome, traveler,” The angel said elegantly. “This is your new home.”
The girl could only stare in amazement as the angel touched down directly in front of her.
“Am I dreaming?” The girl asked tentatively.
“You are completely awake, I assure you.” The angel replied curtly. “Paradise is not some dream that can be dispersed so easily. This kingdom is your new residence. It is a land devoid of all sins and imperfections—conflict, hate, joy, pleasure, and greed—are but relics of the past here. Oh, and excuse my manners; you may call me Morgan.”
The girl’s heart could not help but speed up upon hearing Morgan’s introduction. She took a deep breath and surveyed the sky as she thought. A solitary cloud decorated the sky all on its lonesome. Yes, it was indeed a world of complete peace. A world so intertwined with peacefulness that perfect was the only description that would be apt.
Following this short reflection, Morgan had a few more words of welcome. What more could be told about a world so simple? She was told to do whatever she pleased, so the girl went out to do just that. Days passed in numerous different ways. Some days, the girl would lie in the pastures, staring upwards at the slow-moving clouds. Other days, she would frolic in the fields for hours and hours on end. She would never physically tire here, which meant many days would be full of endless exploration. At times, she would sit near Morgan, who seemed to always be thinking over something with her eyes closed. The two would chat occasionally; nothing of substance was ever said, but it was still a wonderful feeling. Not one day was unpleasant. Every single day, the girl would embrace the land. Each day, she would reach for the sky, endless in its magnificence.
As these days melted away, the girls' curiosity would change and grow, eventually bubbling to the point where it threatened to spill out. She was a blank slate, someone who knew nothing about herself. Realizing this, she approached Morgan.
“Who am I?” She shyly broached the question that had desperately troubled her. “Even though I woke up so long ago, I have yet to remember a single thing about myself. I can’t even recall my name.”
“Of course you can’t,” Morgan replied. “Those things are of the past.”
“I don’t understand. . .”
“Anyhow,” Morgan continued as if she were uninterrupted. “It would perhaps be more convenient if you had a name with which I could address you. I shall crown you with a new one. Leah will be your name.”
“Leah,” the newly christened Leah repeated.
“And in regards to your memories, they are gone simply because they had no purpose. Things like unneeded emotions and memories of the past are only superfluous here. They only serve to stain this world of peace; it is paradise, after all.”
“I understand, but there is still something that bothers me,” Leah prodded. “My memories aren’t what brought me to you, it was the sky. Each day I have been here, the sky has stolen my attention. For some reason, something bubbles within me whenever I look upon it. Some feelings that I don’t really understand. I see the specks that it holds, far off in the distance. They are so clearly unreachable to someone like me, but I still need to know. Surely someone like you with wings would have long explored the heavens by now, right? I only want to know what’s up there. I have this feeling burning inside me, one that I know won’t go away until then.”
“I see,” Morgan replied with the same flat elegance she always spoke in. “Those specks far off in the distance are the pieces we cast off. They are the sacrifices that had to be left behind for us to exist here as we do.”
“Please let me know more. My only wish is to know what things they hold.”
“If that is what you truly desire, then we will go to see them together.”
Leah had not expected such a magnanimous offer to be made suddenly. Yet, Morgan did not say so in jest. She immediately began preparations for the two of them to take off. The next day, a boat had materialized on the otherwise undisturbed grassy plains of Paradise. Leah had been under the impression that they would fly with Morgan’s wings, but it seemed they would ride this instead. It was a rowboat that could fit the two of them at most; this boat would be their vessel to the sky. Without much delay, the two of them boarded this vehicle and began their new journey.
The angel Morgan sat in the back of the boat, her slow rowing the only thing that propelled it upward. In spite of her lax efforts, the two of them glided smoothly and quickly through the air. Leah leaned backwards, resting her head on Morgan's lap. In return, somewhat perplexed eyes looked down upon her. It was such a beautiful feeling for Leah. The cold air brushed across her skin. The sky opened itself to embrace her. The bubbling feeling reached an all-time high as they drew further and further into the air. She stared intently at the first speck they were aimed at, eagerly awaiting their arrival. Not one part of her mind paid heed to the grassy plains of Paradise, now far beneath her feet.
Leah couldn’t tell how much time passed between their departure and arrival, but the boat eventually made its way to the closest speck. This speck was not truly a speck, but rather a fairly small planet floating in the sky. It was a round and rocky planet that was no more than one hundred yards in circumference. They floated directly above it, and Leah looked down, a bit disappointed.
“It’s… rather small, isn’t it?” She asked.
“This is the planet Duellum,” Morgan answered. “As a sight, it is rather disappointing. Despite that, it remains quite dangerous, even with its lackluster appearance. This is as close as I would recommend getting.”
“Could we land on it?” Leah questioned, tilting her head.
“If we anchor, there may be no going back,” warned Morgan. “Are you sure this is what you truly desire?”
“Only for a little bit. We can keep going after I explore.”
After a brief discussion, Leah convinced Morgan to land the boat. The duo gently touched down upon the planet's surface, and Leah stepped off to explore the vapid area.
“It really is plain,” Leah noted, turning to Morgan.
Empty air greeted her in the angel’s place. Her guide and transportation were nowhere to be seen.
“Morgan? Morgan, where have you gone?” She asked.
She walked around the entire land, yet not a single trace of the angel could be found. Not by a single rock. Not on a single side. The planet sat as bare as ever, its only company the distressed girl named Leah. No matter how much Leah called out, the silence of the void was the only answer she received. Something sharp stabbed inside Leah as she ran around the planet. Now, dashing frantically, dismay began to grow in her chest. Not one tree or plant protruded from the still surface of stone. Nothing stood out of the ground to cause her to trip, yet as Leah began to heave, she stumbled to the ground. Not one reminder of Paradise was in this wasteland. A girl lay there, seeming so small even on this insignificant ball of nothingness. A girl so small that one may miss her form, sobbing quietly into the ground.
Leah felt no pain or hunger, even as she lay there for what seemed to be an eternity. No physical discomfort befell her, only this new feeling inside her continued to grow. Loneliness was not something she was familiar with. Ever since she arrived in Paradise, Morgan had always been there, even if only in the distance. The angel had seemed a bit disapproving of this journey. Even if she didn’t put up a fight, she probably hated this bother. Maybe she had cast Leah aside because of this disturbance. Maybe the one being she had known since waking up was truly gone forever. This sadness burned deeper and deeper into her until it could make a new name for itself. Despair was its form. Overwhelmingly, it held onto her, forcing her to heave and shout.
“Please come back! Just come back now. Take me back!
She screamed out to nobody, calling out Morgan’s name until her throat was raw and her voice began to dampen. As time passed, even her energy abandoned her, leaving her with nothing. Leah suffered in this world, her tear-stricken face glued to the ground.
After an unknown amount of time, a melodic voice of beauty rang out.
“Hello, Leah, I see you have found something in your search after all.” A calm voice shattered the everlasting silence.
“Morgan, you’re here,” Leah weakly cried out.
A new shade of emotion came with Morgan's sudden reappearance. A warm emotion ignited the cold tinder of her dead heart. This feeling rivaled the brightness and beauty of Paradise. Leah was so relieved to have her companion back that the prior circumstance felt like nothing but a bad dream. She wasn’t abandoned. She wasn’t forgotten.
“I apologize for my sudden departure,” Morgan explained. “It wasn’t my choice, but rather the choice of this planet. By visiting these places, you will remember some piece of life. Whether it’s an emotion or simply a feeling, these planets will try their best to become a part of you again.”
Leah embraced Morgan as a child would its mother. A slightly shocked expression appeared on Morgan's face before returning to usual. She examined Leah’s clothing for a moment, evidently searching for something as she checked the folds.
“Morgan! Oh, Morgan! I have missed you! I have never been so happy in my entire life.”
“You have successfully recovered happiness as well, it seems; rejoice,” replied Morgan. She picked a small beetle up in her hands as she spoke. The creature squirmed violently, but only for a second, as it was soon squished between her fingers. Seemingly satisfied with her search, Morgan removed her hands from Leah and stepped back.
“Will the rest of these explorations be as hard as this one?” Leah asked. “I’ve never felt so intensely before.”
“I can’t guarantee the difficulty of any challenge you may face. You may still turn back now if you wish. These impurities didn’t exist in Paradise before, but you still have a place there if you want to return.”
“No!” shouted Leah. “I mean, no, I want to keep going. I’m ready to see so much more. This feeling inside me still hasn’t gone away yet. I just have to see what else exists out here.”
Morgan nodded in affirmation, her face as unexpressive as always. The pair set off once again into the distance.
The next planet they set their sights on appeared much more regular on the surface. It was one that more closely resembled how people would expect a habitable planet to appear, with an ecosystem not dissimilar to Earth’s. A beach lined the exterior, and a deep forest lay deep in the center. Only two things stood out immediately: the planet being completely flat, and the small moon floating above the center. The moon, in particular, was quite an oddity, as it seemed to slowly bob up and down as time went on. One may be correct to assume that it might even come low enough for one to reach up and touch it if the timing were just right.
The two touched down on the sandy beach, which had a notable lack of water. Morgan took Leah by the hand as she helped her out of the boat.
“You aren’t going to disappear this time, right?” Leah asked.
“Of course not. I will assist you however I can.”
“Thank God, then, because I have no idea where to start. Or is that appropriate, actually? You know, with the whole angel thing and whatnot.”
Morgan could only blink at Leah’s smirking face.
“This planet is named Voluptas. We have no need to go much further than where we currently stand. I suggest we just lie down here and take a break,” Morgan explained.
With that, Morgan ushered Leah to the ground and made her get down into the sand. A warm feeling washed over Leah, and soon she found herself drifting off to sleep.
They loved her like a true family. She’s sheltered by them from all the cruelty in the world. Every worry she has is eased by this family. Every word is treasured as they listen with the closest intent. These people can never truly understand what she tries to say, but they still try their hardest to provide. Whenever she speaks of a problem, they listen. As time goes on, her very own garden is built. She’s happy being planted there; her roots spreading deeper with her own space to grow into. The sun beams down on her– little rays of happiness. Streams of light are absorbed with the greatest satisfaction. Nothing can compare to that feeling of feasting on light. She grows and grows, much to her pleasure. As more light shines upon her, she only reaches higher. A never-ending cycle of growth and pleasure. This is all she needs to be happy.
She hears the chirping of birds high above. Straining to see upwards, she’s delighted to see her old friend. This bird would help her every day when she was growing up on the windowsill. It was so nice having someone who could hear her. Despite the love of her family, she longed to be able to chat with her treasured friend once again. And so she grew. Higher and higher still; it was the only way she knew to go after all. She chased after her friend day after day, but she could never seem to reach their ears. This continued for a while, until one day the bird noticed her old friend in the center of the garden. Seeing her, she swooped down to the ground, yet still maintained quite a distance.
“Oh, it’s so good to see you again! Please come down closer, we have so much to talk about now that I’m out here.”
But the bird maintained her distance with a silent gaze.
“Why won’t you fly down here?” She called out. “You have wings; I bet you can travel so easily.”
Much to her dismay, the bird began to create even more distance between the two.
“Don’t you know?” The bird sang out as she flew off into the sky. “I could only come so close because of the glass between us. You’re poisonous after all.”
Leah jolted awake from her dreams. She could still feel the warmth of the sun in her hands. Looking down, she realized the warmth came from Morgan holding them. Hand in hand, they sat together for a while. Leah couldn’t tell if Morgan was asleep or not, but it didn’t really matter. The two of them sat together, enjoying the warmth of the sun.
Eventually, Morgan released Leah’s hands from hers and opened her pale blue eyes. A fleeting smile flashed across Morgan’s mouth before the expected conversation began.
“It seems you have once again regained something precious to you,” said Morgan.
“I had an odd dream,” Leah replied. “I’m not quite sure what happened, but I’m definitely sure this planet was way nicer than the last. What now?”
“I think it’s best for us to make our way back to Paradise,” Morgan replied firmly. “Anymore and there might be no place left. I think this is as much as it can take.”
Leah didn’t try fighting back. She could just tell there was no changing Morgan’s mind on this. Because of this, she agreed to return to Paradise the following day. However, this was far from her true intentions. Her curiosity wasn’t all that drove her forward anymore; rather, something new had taken its place. Now that she had experienced that pleasure, she needed more. Gaining these parts of herself was an experience like no other. It was like taking the canteen away from a desert traveler after just one sip. That night, while they were preparing to leave the planet the next day, she would strike. She had to find a way.
The boat remained anchored to the sandy shore, and its rower was similarly resting nearby. Leah knew she couldn’t get the boat going by herself, yet she wanted to explore further. Sadness pained her heart at the thought of her travels stopping here. Just one more planet. Maybe then she would understand herself. The real question was, how could she continue without Morgan? She needed some way to stand on her own two feet. Some way for her to take the sky into her own hands. Maybe the moon floating above this planet had the answers she so desperately needed. And so she set off, shrouded in the darkness of the cold night.
As she walked, the world seemed to awaken around her. Sounds of the forest stirring rang out in the night. It started as a slow, creeping sound, but it slowly escalated the closer she got to her destination. A prick on her hand. A brush across her calf. The forest was truly alive. Something landed on her hand! It was a small insect, curled up and barely moving. It was a moth-like bug that she held gently on her tingling palm. The moth twitched as she gently caressed its back. Leah continued on, taking a few more steps towards that moon with her new friend on board.
It didn’t take long for another one to join; a beetle joined this time on her shoulder. Another few steps and a beetle crawled up her leg. The more Leah waded through this darkened forest, the more bug companions she obtained. She kept trekking throughout the night, undeterred. Her determination didn’t waver for a second; if anything, the bugs seemed to help propel her heart to her destination. She needed to do this. She needed to go to another planet; no, she needed to go to all the other planets. She needed to truly feel alive. Eventually, she was brought to a standstill by the weight of her escorts. Masses of wriggling insects crowded every portion of her body. She had to be careful when moving her joints a lot, as she feared that she would end a couple of lives in the process. So she delicately lowered herself to the ground as best as she could. Sitting completely still, Leah was curled up in a ball in the heart of this forest. She didn’t despise the insects swarming her, or even herself for being swarmed. All Leah had were aspirations growing in her heart, insurmountable greed for the feelings she had yet to experience. She embraced the feeling of legs crawling around her entirely, drifting off to sleep.
The dim morning sky illuminated the beach around Leah. She rubbed her eyes, gazing at the waves crashing beside her. Her sore back ached in two spots, probably from sleeping on the ground. Sitting up, she felt a strange sensation brush against the rock beside her. She gasped upon realizing the situation; two white wings, resembling those of a moth, protruded from her backside. Her dream was truly realized! All the planets in the open sky were hers to explore. She folded her wings underneath her clothes so they would go unnoticed and headed over to where Morgan was resting nearby. Leah didn’t think angels needed to sleep, so maybe she just sat there with her eyes closed the whole time.
“Are you ready to return to paradise?” Morgan questioned, opening her eyes.
“Yeah, I think I’ve seen enough of these places,” replied Leah.
She knew she only had to go along with Morgan for now. All she had to do was sneak off once they got back, and there was nothing to stop her. Her mind drifted off, thinking about the unimaginable adventures that awaited her in the future.
It happened before they even landed in Paradise. As the boat floated gently towards the beautiful land, its fate was already sealed. They came in swarms from deep within her heart; a mass of flying creatures descended from the sky. Insects of all different species, invaders from a foreign reality. They bolted down towards the unscarred land like a black cloud of death raining upon the world. Burrowing into the ground, insurmountable hunger resided in each of the insignificant creatures. Morgan and Leah landed on the ground. Under the sky of the approaching dusk, a girl and an angel stood close to one another, not one word said.
Paradise began to crumble. It was an almost unimaginable process, but even a fool could tell its final hours had arrived. The insects sucked more of the place into the air with every passing second. The northern land dissipated like snow. The southern land drifted apart like ash. The world was ripped apart from the roots.
Eventually, when nothing remained, Morgan spoke towards the sky with a sad smile:
“All things begin with the smallest foundations. Foundations so small, even the tiniest of insects gnawing at it can bring it crashing down. Even one life was enough for this place to lose its purpose. Only curiosity could exist in this place, for it is natural. Paradise could never hold life, they have an irreconcilable relationship with one another. You could never stay here with me. Even a place like this could not contain you.”
Morgan stared longingly at the receding figure in the distance; a girl was flying on wings towards the infinite ether above. As the silhouette grew more indiscernible, one could be forgiven for thinking it to be one of an angel. Leah flew off towards the many planets still waiting for her up above. Soon she shall reach the glorious heavens. A pioneer in aerodynamics.
Alex Pleasants is a student at Virginia Wesleyan University. He is following the creative writing section of the English program, alongside being a Philosophy minor. Alex works at The Fishbowl Review literary journal as a Fiction Co-Editor, as well as a website designer. His favorite genre is mysteries, but he has a very broad taste.