Night time always holds its own charm. We fear its mystery, yet we have always been allured by its beauty and splendor. Whenever the lady has covered us with her cloak of darkness, we hide ourselves inside our shelter of sticks and bricks; while secretly, deep down inside, we long to dance around in her sweet embrace underneath her soft glowing, ever-seeing eyes. But tell me the truth. How many of us have really tried? We create ourselves bright and loud spots to protect ourselves from the evil leashed out by the protection of her darkness, so that somehow we feel secured to spend our times outside our sanctuaries at night. Nightlife; that's the name we have given it. But we all know that is not what we long for. No, we wished to be hugged by her cool and showered by the glistening light of her moon.
Every single night, I leave my window open until I am ready to close my eyes. It is through that window that I heard her whisper for the first time. She spoke in words that no man has ever spoken, but I understood well that she was calling for me. She spoke in a voice so soft and so sweet, you couldn't help but long for her. At first I was scared; for no beings from this world of ours could be so tempting, so inviting. There can only be two explanations for that voice I was hearing. It could be that the voice was merely a fragment of my overly active imagination, or that it was the sounds of eerie ghouls watching me through the darkness, longing to suck the life out of my mortal body.
Yes, I was scared. And for some time then, I pretended that there were no voices. That it was merely the sound of wind blowing through the branches of oaks right outside. But all those times, I always knew that I was fooling myself. There was no way that a voice so vivacious with a hint of intelligence was the sound of wind. Whatever made these voices is trying to reach out for me, calling me, and this calling is made for me and only me. One day, I could not resist anymore. I had to see her, she who owns this beautiful voice. There was still a trace of doubt in my heart. For no logic could explain the strong encouragement I feel inside to wander around all alone in the dark. So I slipped out through my window and headed for that call.
As I stepped out of my room, I noticed that there was something different with my surroundings. It is as if the place has been illuminated with pure silver light. Everything was so beautiful; and so alive. I continued my journey, for the voices I was hearing originated somewhere inside the forest. As I walked I realized a strange chattering noise all around me and I realized that I was not alone. Every trees and flowers, birds and grass, even rocks were speaking to each other in the language the voice has spoken in. I couldn’t understand the language, but I could feel what it is they were saying to each others. “Look, she’s here. She’s finally here.” That instant, I knew that they were talking about me; and that they knew I was coming. But how could that be? Even I didn’t know that before I finally decided to step out of my window. It was confusing for me. However, I realized something. There was someone, or something, that has been waiting for me for some time. I wasn’t imagining things after all.
I walked further in the forest. Never had I thought that forest in night time would be so beautiful. Every single creature and thing was glistening underneath the pale moonlight. Out of nowhere, a pathway emerged in front of me. The path was made of smooth white marbles and laced with narcissuses. I was dubious for a second, because I’ve known this forest for so long, yet I never knew such pathway exists, than decided to follow that path. With every single step, the chattering around me grows more clamorous with excitement; I could no more understand what they were saying. But the voice that has been calling me remains steady and clear. I had no doubt where to go.
After what felt like an hour, I finally reached the end of the pathway and found myself in an enchanting clearing. The clearing were mysteriously bright, especially since I didn’t notice any source of light around except the moon. It was as if every flower and rocks there had emitted a soft white glow. The clearing was round in shape, about twenty meters in diameter. In the middle of the clearing lies a natural structure made from wood and flowers shaped in a scepter. On top of it lies a white shiny oval-shaped stone in the size of a grown man fist. As I approach it, I realized that it was not white. I had never seen such beautiful color in my live. As if someone took a rainbow and blend all of its color and locked them inside the stone. Now they all struggling to get out, resulting on the stone’s unique, ever changing color.
As I watched the stone in astonishment, I was startled by the giggling sound behind me. I turned around and realized that the previously empty clearing were now filled with people. Only they are not really people like you and me. They were taller than average human, about 2 meters high, and they were slender and firm. Their skins were extremely fair and glitters as if they were decorated with hundreds of white crystals. Their movements were swift and graceful as a swan. Their hairs were shiny silver and soft as silk. They were by far the most beautiful beings I’ve ever seen. And they were all watching me with amusement.
One of them approached me. I thought it was a man, even though I couldn’t tell if it was female or male, for he was far too fair to be a man yet too gallant to be a woman. He took me by the hand at his consciousness swept over me. He explained that they were the embodiment of everything that exists in the forest. Once every few years, they appeared to exalt the Lady of the Night with a grand feast and that it was the Lady who was calling out to me. For in every feast, one person from the kind of man was invited to celebrate with them and that the Lady has chosen me. After I understood what happened, he took me in his arms and we danced. Everyone was joined in an intricate and picturesque dance. We danced and we feast all night and it felt like we were doing it forever, yet it felt very brief.
As the moon started to set, once again he took me by the hand and said that now is the time to end the feast, for the lady is weary. My heart grew heavy with sorrow, for I know I would never see them again; but he stroked my face and say that they would never be too far away.
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on my garden, right outside my window. The sun is rising and the sky was crimson and beautiful. I felt a strange yearning in my heart for everything was so ordinary. I never knew whether that night was real or was it only a dream, but all I know is that I would forever carry it in my heart.
