The sky was a sprawling sea of azure, unmarred by clouds, casting a serene atmosphere over the world below. The sun hung high, bathing everything in its warm golden rays. Judy felt the fresh air kiss her skin, a gentle caress that made her bare feet tingle against the cool gravel of the road. With each step, laughter floated on the breeze like a sweet melody, drawing her attention.
Turning around, she spotted her parents sitting on the lush, green grass, their faces aglow with joy, laughter spilling from their lips like music on a perfect spring day. Eager to join them, Judy started walking, a smile on her face. However, the reality of her situation hit hard; no matter how fast she moved, they remained tantalizingly out of reach.
The warmth of joy in her heart began to morph into frustration as she transitioned from a walk to a desperate run, but it felt like she was running through molasses, each step heavy and unyielding. A chill clawed at her veins, and her heart raced in her chest as if it were trying to leap free. Her legs felt as though they were glued to the ground, while a whirlwind of questions spiraled in her mind like leaves caught in a tempest.
"What is happening to me? What am I doing here? Where am I? Why are my parents so far away? Why can't I reach them? Why? Why? Why?" Her parents, seemingly unaware of her plight, stood up from their grassy throne and began walking hand in hand toward the horizon. Panic rose within her, sharp and unsettling, compelling her to shout, "Mom! Dad!" But her voice fell into an abyss; they were impervious to her cries.
Just then, she heard Ethan, her younger brother, calling for her as he sprinted toward her, his familiar voice a beacon amid the chaos. She turned back to her parents, only to see the atmosphere darkening around them, a thick shadow creeping in like an omen. A steep cliff materialized ahead, its jagged edge stark against the vibrant world, but her parents moved forward with abandon, blissfully unaware of the danger that awaited them. The chasm loomed larger, swallowing the light.
"Hey, where are they going?" Ethan gasped, disbelief etched across his face. Fear gripped Judy's heart; she had no answers. All she could do was watch, helplessly frozen in place as her parents seemed to drift toward the abyss. "I… I don't know. They can't even hear me," she whispered, shaking violently. As her parents neared the edge, she and Ethan unlocked their legs and began to run, hearts pounding like war drums, only to be met with the heartbreaking sight of their parents turning back, smiling and waving as if bidding farewell—a sweet gesture that felt more like a knife to her heart. It became painfully difficult to breathe. The weight of despair pressed down on her, and she felt a scream building within her, tears streaming down her cheeks.