Transition from Despair
Hope is a fleeting commodity.
Mika’s logical mind was trapped inside the citadel walls of despair. His dire situation and his inability to find a resolution quickly only worsened the desperation he was feeling. Despair is a beast that blinds its victim from seeing rational solutions that would be obvious to the unencumbered mind. Despair is a self-perpetuating creature that feeds off the hopelessness of its prey. Yes, he must find an escape before his body and mind succumb to the ever-increasing pressure.
With a herculean effort, Mika surveyed his surroundings. Long straight corridors branching from a central hub and high ceilings reflected echoes as people passed by. He was in some type of public building; that much was obvious. The enormity of the task at hand momentarily allowed his despair to briefly reassert its dominance. However, the internal tug of war quickly slid back in Mika’s direction.
One thing was crystal clear: if he were to emerge victorious over despair, he needed to move from his present location. Cautiously, he shuffled his feet, taking a stuttering half-step. It was painful, but more steps were required. All the while, he scanned the corridors, searching for his prize. Regular steps replaced baby steps, and eventually, full strides took over. The citadel walls around his mind were now cracking as his confidence slowly returned. Yes, he just might make it after all.
The pain was now relentless, driving him forward with renewed purpose. At the end of a long hall, he spotted a solid door with a plaque attached. He took several more steps, bringing him close enough to read the word embossed on the sign. MEN. The citadel walls exploded, and bright light replaced the darkness in his mind. He had reached his goal.
But despair does not take defeat lightly. As Mika placed his hand on the door, it released a tendril from deep in the darkest regions of his subconscious. The appendage slithered up to the surface of his mind and imbedded a thought—What if there’s no toilet paper?
About the Creator
Mark Gagnon
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Keep reading
More stories from Mark Gagnon and writers in Fiction and other communities.
A Cry for Help
Paul, I spotted your poster stapled to a tree and feel I must respond. You and I share a bond that most people will never understand. You have lost your favorite black T-shirt, and I have lost my pants. They are not just any pair of pants. My pants are made from the best corduroy money can buy. They give off a rubbing sound when I walk. This vip-vip sound makes me the center of attention wherever I go. People stop and scan the area in search of this unique sound. I can see a look of recognition form across their faces as I pass by them. Oh, that’s where the sound is coming from, is what they’re thinking.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Choose Your Own Adventure: St Helena Station
*****Preface***** I have been obsessed with Choose Your Own Adventure stories since I was a kid. I credit them with my love of reading and writing. I've been struggling to get my own kids to embrace words the same way I have but they love video games and our occasional Dungeon's and Dragon's game... which gave me an idea. I'll write an interactive story. So far its working; my middle son loves it and can't wait for the next section to come out.
By Sandor Szabo4 days ago in Fiction
Ghost Kitten Rise
There is another world that exists parallel to our own. It sits right beside us, and above us, and below us, and all around us, yet we never see it, and only very few of us ever sometimes feel it. That feeling may come as a cold chill, or a whisper from an empty room, or a tingle running down the spine, or any of a million other barely noticed disturbances to our ordinary everyday lives. We only notice because the feeling is so non-ordinary, so different from what we expect and are used to. Some people call it the spirit world, or another dimension or heaven or hell, but the name is not important, at least not for purposes of this story. What is important to understand about this other world is that it is inhabited by many creatures, some of which are formerly living beings from our own planet earth. Most people refer to these as ghosts, and they are feared by the still living. Some of these ghosts should be feared, but others are innocent and kind, even helpful to the living. There are other things in that world that are much more fearsome than the former living. They are natives of that world, and it is all they have ever known. However, they also know of the ghosts, and they know they come from another place. They very much desire to know what this other place is, where it is, and how to get there. They wish to conquer that world, our world, and make it their own. The reasons for this are not understood and there may be no reason, at least not one we could ever hope to comprehend. For countless millennia these beings have waited and watched and plotted and planned and made attempt after attempt to breach into our world.
By Everyday Junglista day ago in Fiction
Comments (3)
Haha!! I was both expecting this and not expecting it!! I knew the bathroom came into play somewhere because of the title page, but I did not imagine it would play out this way!! Great work Mark!! 🤣
Hahahahahaha knowing you, I knew a twist was coming but that was not what I was expecting at all despite the cover pic! Lol! For his sake, I hope there's toilet paper 🤣🤣🤣
Always end with a joke if you travel in darkness. 🧻