True Peace

True Peace(Theodora) There was once a wise man saying that a happy life was a gift given freely to mankind with only one simple condition. But to me, a happy life was something beyond reach.
I was merely a humble young girl in search of her mama. My birth was unexpected and my mama had thrown me away in the middle of the river. I was an infant without identity. The world revolves around me without a hint of empathy, without mercy. And here I am, standing in the throne, looking down at those people who had looked down on me. After all they had done to me, here they were asking me to save them from the starvation that landed its devastating attack on every nation. They have no shame, have they? After all those things they did to me, did they even expect me to lend a kind, helping hand to them? I am utterly speechless.
Even though I had it all – money, fame- I had no peace at heart. I longed for a dip of fresh blissful water on my heart but the chance never came. And so I decided to search for my very own peace.
_

Since I had never met my mom, I lacked the figure of a mom in my life. Even with all that ‘kind’ act I showed to everyone, deep down I was tortured as I was living a lie. My heart felt like a complete abyss of nothingness.
I took a morning walk around my mansion when I stumbled across a book. There was no title and out of curiosity, I opened the book. The instant that I opened it, my mind went blank and soon darkness embraced me.
In the midst of my unconsciousness, I gathered all of my thoughts and willed myself to open my eyes. But no matter how hard I tried, my body betrayed me. I could feel that I was lying helplessly.
All that changed when a voice spoke to me.
“Diane?”
Diane? Who on earth was Diane? I tried to open my eyes once again and it worked. Thank goodness. In front of me stood a young man, I couldn’t really explain it but it felt like I’ve known this man for as long as I've lived. His name was Pete. He had hazel green eyes, green hair and pale skin. Anyone who had just met him might have had the thought that he was an alien. He was in the same age as me but was way taller than I. How I wish I could be taller.
“Diane?” Now Pete’s visible features seemed to frown in a ridiculous way. And by now I knew that Diane was my name.
“Yes Pete?” Only after I had spoken, his features relaxed. From this, I could really see that he cared, like genuinely cared.
“Pete, where am I? I am absolutely positive that I have only just met you now but why does it seem like I’ve known you for a very long time?” I had expected something like him being hurt that I thought that I’ve never met him but to my surprise, he chuckled.
“You never change now do you?” His face seemed to shine like those of an angel. Now I am almost certain that I died. I just have to ask this question.
“Am I dead yet?” I raised one of my eyebrows to enhance the effect. This only brought bigger laughs from him.
Feeling completely annoyed, for I was completely serious, I got up and started to walk to any direction as long as it was away from Pete. But with my body’s weak state, he caught up almost immediately. Why couldn’t he be any slower than me? That would be nice.
“I know that you’re pissed with me laughing at you so in return I will tell you where you are now, and by the way, you’re not dead, yet.” said Pete as he stopped in front of me, trying to grab my attention.
“You are inside of the book you just opened and I am one of the characters designed to accompany you throughout your stay here. Once you enter the book, you will feel like you’ve known me, but actually you don’t, I am just here to be your friend and your guide.” Explained Pete as we walked along the field of rice grains I just found near the place where I woke up.
“And so, how do I get out of here? I’ve got tons of things to do, starting from work, medical app-“
“Once you’re here, the real-life freezes. You can get out of here once you gain something. What I meant by something is anything.”
Feeling bewildered, I shrugged.
“How the heck can I gain that something or that anything?” I asked Pete, but he wouldn’t even answer. He just looked upon me and had this annoying -I know it all and you don’t- smile, how I wish I could smack his face, but the problem was that he was too tall for me to even reach.
“Is there anything you want more than wealth or fame?” asked Pete.
I scrambled through my mind and I froze.
“I want to find peace.” That sentence flew out of my mouth even before I could think twice.
“Good, now you’re being very honest, that will come in handy.” said Pete. Like what the heck did he just meant by that?
_

“So Diane, what is your idea of peace?” asked Pete. I was still angered by that time when he didn’t answer my question, I zipped my mouth shut.
Disappointed, Pete muttered something.
“I am just trying to help you out. You know, a lot of people stumbled upon this book, they came in here but they never return.” That statement shocked me.
Giving up on the effort to ignore him, I asked.
“Why did they never return?” I swore I could notice his mood rising up when he heard me start talking.
“They found what they want here and they chose to leave all their problems and responsibilities in the real world. But their lives didn’t end well. They all died a miserable death.” smiled Pete knowingly.
I see. So I just have to be careful. I got that noted.
Determined to get out of this book, I list down all of the actions I thought could bring me peace. From A-Z including things like sleeping in the bath tub, pretending to be Sleeping Beauty. I did all of that together with Pete. But I couldn’t find peace.
After a tiring day, Pete suggested that we spend the night lying down on the field staring at the stars. I reluctantly agreed. Not long after that, I drifted off to sleep.
As the morning sun lightened up my face, the first thing I did was to find Pete, but he was nowhere to be found. I felt a feeling that I’ve never felt before. Panic. I couldn’t think straight. Then finally I realized that all I needed was a friend, someone to rely on. Then I could find peace. Thank you, Pete.
That instant I came out of the book and I’ve lived a happy life ever since.