by: Brianna Paulino
Life isn’t a charade.
Occurrences are inevitable, changes, almost fated. Sustaining oneself in this flux isn’t an easy game to play. There are obstacles around that Mother Earth won’t hesitate to throw in. Everything that happens, happens. It is a reality regardless.
However, a person’s mind is an entirely different world. Anything can emerge within it and slowly collapse; actions occur without outside interference. Not even the Gods themselves can make a significant change within the mind.
The mind does as it pleases.
As the world around this young woman was in twists and turns, Aldith decided to put on a facade. A facade to mask away all the troubles the Earth had decided to throw into the air.
Aldith had taken notice of the sudden invitation to a Festival of Light. An event that was deemed, “the most anticipated.” Due to all of the misfortunes that had recently occurred, the invitation seemed out of the ordinary. Aldith wondered if everyone had forgotten that this village was at war for centuries against the dangers of the world.
With each passing year, troubles had emerged without hesitation. People would scurry away and take cover to protect themselves and their loved ones. Those in power had hurt anyone who was against them. However, this time, it seemed the worries were ignored, and people had turned indifferent.
Aldith thought it was rare…ignorance towards worries like that.
However, it was not rare for her.
The optimistic mind she occupied had sadly turned away the reality of what was going around her. She assumed that the lives that had been forcefully taken away would be brought into a world of peace…pretended that everything that had recently occurred had a reason, as if, something good would turn out from all of this pain inflicted upon her village. Whenever she was upset with things slipping into chaos, she acted as if reality was inevitable and focussed on trying to do better. Telling everyone to just hope for the best was her best shot.
Not afraid to cover the wounds with glitter as they stab into the flesh of human skin! Perhaps painful…but the way Aldith viewed the world made everything oh so pretty.
As Aldith stared into the mirror, she felt luminous. The commencement of the Festival
had given her great hope that things would finally change for the better. All this wishing and hoping would finally be worth it.
She had prepared everything for the day that would be recalled for its sudden arrival. Perfection was the key to ensuring that things went well. That’s what could make her charade a reality. As the mirror glimmered with her dazzling appearance, Aldith couldn’t help but appreciate herself. Her chocolate-like brunette hair had been transformed into luscious curls above her shoulders. The golden-ish gown filled with black jewels could make anyone go blind as they scattered around the fabric; its lace ridges draped around as well. Her complexation, soft as ever filled with tiny shards of glitter around. Nothing could ever go wrong with a bit of vividness in life, Aldith wondered.
Then, the main event. As she held it up for her eyes to grace upon, the dazzling black lace mask looked like a cherry on top.
“Now…” she spoke, “Time to go out into the world and do what I do best!”
She wore the mask and felt a sudden chill down her spine. She turned to look, only to discover that the winter chills entered through the open window. Aldith gently closed it. She glanced outside the window to discover the women and gentlemen exiting their homes, all dolled up.
It all looked surreal to Aldith. She was surprised that everyone in the village had decided to partake in these festivities. She always thought that her hopes would merely be wishes that go unheard. Not now, not anymore.
She beamed at the thought of people finally enjoying themselves as her heart filled up with joy.
Without a second to waste, Aldith walked away from her window and approached the nearby exit of her beloved home. With her right hand grabbing the handle, she pushed the door only to be welcomed by cheers and music.
The night was filled with the brightest of light! Chit-chatting, everyone strolled to the main square of the village. Young children, sprinting away with their masks in their hands with the sounds of laughter coming from them. Streetlights shone through the night, illuminating it all.
No sign of quietness. No sign of rivers of tears. No signs of pain nor sorrow…no signs of messy roads that could break anyone’s heart…
All unluckiness that the village had endured would soon disappear.
As Aldith walked around the village, heading to the square, she saw young folks singing their hearts out to the tunes she hadn’t heard in years. Crowds bustling where the performers dazzled the stage! Aldith tried to get her way into the crowd. As she shoved her way to the front, she tapped on the shoulder of the primary performer after they had completed a tune.
“My apologies!” Aldith exclaimed, “But I would like to inform you that you all have such lovely voices! Where have you heard such a tune like that? It’s been so long since anybody in here has heard it!” She clasped her hands to express herself better.
The young talent, a fourteen-year-old girl with long blonde hair smiled at the woman.
“Why, thank you! It means a lot to me that you enjoyed our performance. We heard the tune when we were young children. Now, it hasn’t been too long since this music has blessed us, has it?” the young girl asked.
Aldith chuckled, “Well, you must be one hundred percent correct! You sure are-”
“Why are you wearing that mask?” the young girl interrupted.
“Parden?”
“The mask…how come you’re wearing it?”
“Well, you see, it’s the masquerade after all! I had to present myself as best as I possibly could!” Aldith smiled at her with all of her might.
The young girl then snatched the black masquerade mask off of Aldith’s face, causing her a bit of pain as her fingernails scratched her cheek. Aldith bent, pressing her fingers to her face as she winced in pain.
She got up, her palm still pressing between her eyes, clouding everything of the outside world.
“Why?” Aldith asked with calmness in her voice. “What was the reason to be this reckless?” It was not that big of a deal for her, just a little scratch, that’s all.
“Because you’re blind!” screeched the young girl's voice.
Aldith was surprised by the sudden change of tone. As that happened, cries had begun to ring in her ears as if a deadly song was sung to haunt her into a trance. Confusion prevailed as she opened her eyes to witness the havoc in front of her.
It was as if all the light…had just faded away. Not dimmed, but completely withdrawn without warning. The young maidens held onto their loved ones, as they were slowly looking into the light, about to lose it all. Filth and debris were scattered around as young children ran whining for their parents to find them. There was no streetlight to shine a path through this darkness…just the candles illuminating the bloody scenes.
Seemed like it wasn’t over…
Aldith felt stunned… as if everything had just returned to what it always was.
“Can’t you see!?” The young girl growled. Aldith turned towards her. Her polished golden hair tangled here and there; her dress scratched with blots of dried-up blood.
The young one raised her voice for the whole town to take notice. “We’re in danger! And you don’t give a damn! Just want to be in your little fantasy, away from all of this!
“I…I…” Aldith began to stutter, “I didn’t…”
“Didn’t what, huh! Don’t with your pitiful statements at all!”
“Well…” Aldith, without hesitation, grabbed the mask from the young girl’s hand and placed it where it had been. The young girl screamed but Aldith couldn’t hear her anymore.
As she opened her eyes, Aldith saw a cleaned-up version of the fourteen-year-old. The sound of laughter and music filled the room.
Relief had returned.
“I don’t need to be reminded...” Aldith whispered to herself as she walked up to the main square.
“There are some things that deserve to be masqueraded…”
Comentarios