Worlds in Words: Stories Collection Bundle 1-4

Souls Don’t Tell Lies

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE lazy Sunday mornings that could transport you to your past. Lately, certain things weighed on my mind, and I was getting restless. Since I had nowhere to be, no one to see, and nothing important to do, I decided to go out. I went to visit my favorite café and read for a while. After all, what better way to relax and rejuvenate? Or so I had thought.

That was when it happened. In a single moment, my perception of life changed drastically. I felt the need to be more than who I was, more than an ordinary person living a very conventional and mundane life. I hated the change. I feared it even. I was scared of leaving my comfort zone. Cocooned in my neatly organized principled life, I wasn’t ready to admit that basically, I was a coward.

Reading was my escape. It was something that made me feel brave. Between the pages of a book, I could almost pretend to be an adventurer. It felt right somehow. There was no need for me to be a risk-taker. Why would I want to when I could keep living a peaceful, albeit boring life? That day, everything changed when I received a note from a stranger.

There I was, minding my business and reading one of my all-time favorite books when someone passed me a note. I opened it. Are you happy? That was all it said, no names or anything else.

It was a simple question that someone who cared for you might ask. Was I happy? I thought I was until that very moment. All at once, I wasn’t so sure. What was happiness anyway? Do we even know that? I was living a quiet life with a job, a house, and something to read at any time. I always thought that was enough. But was it?

Even now, I’m uncertain why I responded to that one question the way I did. I wasn’t that person. I was never the one to listen to my heart. My brain had always been the dominant organ until that fine, fateful day. Perhaps it was someone else who took over my consciousness. At least, that is the only plausible explanation I can find. But then words have undeniable power. We all know this, especially those of us who read as we breathe.

So, back to that day. After reading the cryptic note, I looked around searching for its author. It wasn’t a question you would ask a stranger, so I wondered who wrote it and why would they be interested in my happiness. That was when our eyes met. It was the first time I noticed how mesmerizingly warm the brown color could be. Little did I know that those eyes would haunt me for the rest of my life.

The woman stood up and walked towards me. May I sit here? She whispered, or maybe she had one of those husky voices that sounded like a whisper.

Yes, sure. Do I know you? I replied, posing a question of my own.

I doubt it, but I know you. I’ve known you for as long as I’ve known myself, she said. She sounded like a creepy stalker. It was bizarre, but I stayed quiet. I waited for her to elaborate and wasn’t disappointed when she continued. This may come as a surprise to you. We are soul twins.

Okay? I wasn’t sure how to respond to that statement. What was soul twins anyway?

I was beginning to fear that I had made a big mistake talking to a stranger. I was never a big conversationalist. It wasn’t normal for me to talk to strangers. I sometimes wonder why I welcomed the woman’s company. I still don’t have an answer to that question. All I can say is that something about her felt right. I didn’t know her. At the same time, I believed it when she said that she knew me.

I can see your skepticism. I assure you I’m no looney. I know what I’m talking about. We were meant to meet like this. I’ve waited a long time for this very moment. There is so much I need to say. And so much you should understand before we start our journey together. She looked at me as if I were the most precious thing in the world.

It should’ve been weird, and yet it wasn’t. I was listening to her as if my very existence depended on it. Still, I wasn’t someone to throw caution away completely.

Look, lady, I have no idea who you are and what you are talking about. Either explain yourself in a way I can comprehend or kindly leave me to my reading.

The woman was undeterred.

There is no reason for you to get annoyed, Sarah. All in good time, she said with a smile, let me explain, please.

She had called me by my name. I was now sure that she was a stalker. She might have frequented the same café. It wasn’t like I noticed people or my surroundings.

You do know me, I stated. How? What do you want from me?

Nothing more than your time, she said in a calm monotone. First, answer my question. Are you happy?

Yes and no. I’m not sure. I’m content, I think.

No, that’s not what I meant, dear, or rather it isn’t what I want to hear from you. You cannot live life like this. It isn’t living. You exist and nothing more. You need to be happy. I wish to see you laugh out loud. I wish you to feel exhilarated by something you are passionate about. What are you passionate about?

This conversation was spiraling out of control. Who was she, and how did she know about my life? True I had never thought of my life as boring, but she had a point. I was living a half-hearted life. It sounded depressing coming from someone else’s mouth. I was at peace. Wasn’t I? I didn’t need passion or laughter. I preferred my quiet existence.

Once again, I was lost for words. My confusion was palpable. That woman had the wheels of my thoughts churning. The first thing was first, though. I’m not sure why you’re asking me this. Why are you interested in my life? I asked.

Did I not tell you that I am your soul twin? Of course, I’m interested in your life, in you, she replied in her calm manner, which I was beginning to associate with her. She had an air of tranquility, which was very soothing, albeit hard to decipher. I wanted her to keep talking. If you’re happy, I’ll keep living as I always have. Your unhappiness will lead to turbulence in my life. Now she sounded sad.

I laughed at that. You might not understand the importance of it, but I laughed! I never laughed. I smiled. Full-on laughter was so unlike me, but I couldn’t help it. I was beginning to think she was indeed a looney. Also, I wondered why I was listening to her aptly. She had me intrigued, I would give her that. I was curious to know more if there was more.

So, let me get this straight. You think our souls are twins and my happiness is related to yours. Is that right?

Yes, that’s correct except I don’t think it. I know it for a fact. She smiled again.

That’s absurd. Besides, I’ve told you I’m quite content with my life. Thank you! I was getting impatient as the conversation entered unchartered territory, making me uncomfortable.

Who talked about souls and happiness? Those things didn’t mean anything in this paper world. She was making me think about things I’d rather not think about.

Please, listen to me! You can’t live like this forever. You must find your passion and pursue it. You need to be happy. It’s of utmost importance, she said earnestly.

Okay, tell me more, I said, even though I didn’t want to listen to her anymore. Yet, I also wanted to see where she was going with her unusual demands.

Every soul is created in twos, like ours. Two souls come into existence together. One is destined to be born into this world, while the other remains unbound and free to roam the universe. It exists without actually existing. When its twin dies, both souls return to their origin and become one. Our souls have existed for over a hundred years, and then you were born as Sarah, and I remained unbound. It was a happy existence for me until you started to wither away. I can’t stand by and watch you waste this life. You must take full advantage of what has been given to you so that when you return to your origin and the two of us become one, there are no regrets or unfulfilled dreams and no desire to get another chance because this is it. We will not get another chance ever again. She was trying to explain things in a way she thought I would understand.

She was wrong because nothing she said made any sense to me. It was all so farfetched that it sounded like a plot of a science fiction novel. You are right in front of me, and you want me to believe you are a soul without a body? Are you serious? I pointed out the most obvious flaw in her theory.

I can explain that. She kept smiling, and now her smile was starting to creep me out. Her eyes remained the same, warm and inviting. I’m not here, nor are we having this conversation. At least not in a way that humans do, but it’s our souls conversing with each other.

That’s ridiculous! I’m here, in my favorite café, reading what I love the most. You wrote me a note, a note! That’s as human as you can get. I was a little more forceful with my statements than I needed to be but it was the last straw. Now, she wanted me to believe that I was hallucinating.

Had my life become so pointless that I was having conversations with my soul twin? The thought was very disturbing. Immediately, I started to think about the last time I had a real conversation with someone who wasn’t a character from one of my favorite books. I was turning into a pitiful creature. No wonder my so-called soul twin was worried about my very existence.

Huh, I was starting to believe her. My logical and rational mind was telling me to trust her beautiful brown eyes. They said, ‘eyes didn’t lie,’ and hers seemed honest. But how could I believe in things like soul twins? No, I couldn’t. No matter how trustworthy her eyes were, her words were fiction. Or so I thought until someone was shaking me awake.

I had fallen asleep while reading, and when I woke up, there was no woman with warm brown eyes anywhere in the café. There was no note inquiring about my happiness. It was me and my book, as usual—just us. But I was left with a nagging feeling in my gut, those hauntingly pretty eyes in my mind, and that soothing husky voice in my ears, urging me to be happy, to be passionate, and to live my life to the fullest because it was the only one that I had got. I knew then it was no mere dream. I had finally found the courage to seek my adventure and that altered the course of my life forever, thanks to my soul twin.

Wherever she is right now, I’m sure she is still smiling at me.

Deafening Silence

I WAS LOST FOR A LONG time. I guess that’s how most of us feel when we search for a purpose in this world of chaos and constant disruptions. Sometimes, we accept our existence on this planet and everything it entails as it is, while most of the time, we seek to change things. Some of us live well, while others struggle every minute of every day. Some seek a higher meaning in life, wanting to be more and to do more, while others drift through the stream of life without direction.

I was among the latter and didn’t believe in seeking the purpose of life. I believed no one could ever really know what that purpose was, so why bother? I lived one day at a time. There wasn’t much I wanted from life except a peaceful death. I hoped to go to bed one day and never wake up again. At least, that’s what I thought until the day my life came unhinged.

That day started like any other. There was nothing special about it. I woke up like I always did and went to work as usual. I was a pharmacist whose professional life was as mundane as it could be.

You lack ambition, Hansel, my sister would say.

I’m content with everything I have, I would reply.

I had nothing to prove to anyone, least of all to myself. So, I never strived to be better. I was an average person living an average life, doing what most people did. My sister’s approval wasn’t something I sought.

That day, however, was a turning point for me. After work, I decided to visit my sister. That was something out of the norm for me because I wasn’t close to her. Also, living in different cities made it difficult to run into each other. I even made a point of avoiding her if I could help it.

Farah was my only living family, the only person I loved and resented at the same time. She was my opposite. She was everything I wasn’t. She thought being older gave her a right to nag me about everything from my career to my lack of love life. That was probably the reason I avoided seeing her.

She was a doctor come actress. She pursued the field of medicine and then decided that wasn’t what she wanted. Good for her, not so much for the patients who relied on her. Regardless, whatever she did, she did it well. She was a brilliant doctor, and now her acting skills were unmatched. If I were truthful, I’d admit I admired her, but I wasn’t that honest.

When I saw her, Farah was very happy, which wasn’t so unusual for her. She was a happy person, happier than most.

You look excited about something, I said.

Well, it’s a surprise. You’d know when the time’s right, she said without giving me any details. I hated it when she did that. She could be so dramatic at times, and she loved creating suspense. I was sure it was nothing special and didn’t press the point. Even a new dress or a pair of shoes she liked could make her happy.

Sure, I said, and changed the subject, How have you been?

I’m fine. Now that you finally got the time to visit your sister, she said in a way that made me feel guilty as if I had done something wrong.

I’ve been busy, I replied, inwardly telling myself she didn’t visit me either, and I was guilty of nothing.

Yeah, as if, she smiled, teasing me. I’m your sister, remember? I know you well, and I also know how busy you are not. She had no clue, but she liked to pretend otherwise.

I shrugged and thought it better not to argue with her. I missed you and wanted to spend some time with you.

As you can see, never been better. She gave me her best smile. She was the kind of person who could brighten up even the darkest corners. You don’t seem well. She was also very perceptive, even though not many would guess that about her.

I’m fine, I had no idea how to explain it to her, I just...

You need someone to make you happy. Once again, she reminded me that my reclusive lifestyle was no way to live. You aren’t happy, and I’m not living in the same city to visit you often. I worry for you. You’ve mourned for long enough. Don’t you think? She had to go there.

That has nothing to do with it. I’m just never happy. That doesn’t mean that I’m sad, I replied. I’m content with my life. There is nothing wrong with that. You know I’m not an emotional person. I don’t think I can ever feel truly happy anyway.

Sometimes, I wondered if there was something wrong with me. I’d never voice my fears in front of anyone, least of all my sister. My lack of emotions made it difficult for me to get attached to others. I didn’t even have any close friends. Most people I knew kept their distance from me. That was wise, though. People only complicated things, and I needed a drama-free life.

Still, you need to start living a little, she persisted.

People die, so why get attached to someone only to mourn their absence later, I said at last.

You don’t love because you fear loss? She sounded shocked.

It was probably the most revealing conversation I had had with her. I didn’t know why I said it. It wasn’t unusual for her to criticize my lifestyle. I had never tried to explain it to her before. She wouldn’t understand, and I wasn’t the type to give explanations.

I admired my sister’s strength. She dealt with loss well. She knew how precious life was, and she also knew how fragile it was. She had somehow found her balance. While I was lost, more now than ever before.

We talked some more, and then I left. On my way back home, my car was hit by a truck. I lost consciousness on the impact. I didn’t remember feeling any pain. One minute, I was thinking about my sister’s blissful life, and the next minute, it was all dark and silent.

I remembered the silence. That’s all I could recall. It was profound. Don’t worry, I didn’t die that day. I just went to hell. At least I wasn’t lost anymore. I finally knew where I was, but I still didn’t know why I ended up there.

I woke up deaf. I couldn’t hear a single sound, not that there was any sound there. The silence reigned supreme. All was quiet. I couldn’t even hear my voice.

It was a strange place. As far as I could see, there were poppy fields, nothing else. I didn’t see any roads or trails, so I walked around without direction, without purpose. I had no idea how long I wandered in those endless fields. It could’ve been an hour, one day, or a month. I was neither tired nor was I hungry or thirsty. However, I was frustrated and lonely.

I wanted to go home and talk to my sister some more. Maybe even move closer to her so that I would see her more often. Most of all, I wanted to hear a sound and listen to music. Any sound.

At that moment, I realized how scared I was and how terrifying the silence was. No wind blew, no birds chirped, the sun didn’t set, and that one day stretched to infinity, never-ending. That’s how I knew I was in hell. Because where else could it be? In the silent poppy fields, I was all alone, and there was nothing for me to do except think.

Ultimately, I accepted my fate. I sat down and contemplated. I thought about my life and about all the things I never got to do. I had never fallen in love. I didn’t travel anywhere exciting. I never dreamed any dreams. Mostly, I never really lived. I merely existed.

I never did anything for anyone, never went out of my way to help another soul. It’s true that I also never intentionally harmed anyone, but that’s not the point. The point was that I was self-engrossed, no one else mattered, and nothing else carried weight. That was my life. Was it a good one? I thought it was better than many, but it’s also true that it could’ve been so much more. Then I remembered...

There was a time when things were different. Before our parents died in a senseless shooting incident, Farah and I were close, as close as any two siblings could ever be. We shared everything. We talked too much, and we laughed too hard. We were a perfect picture of a happy family.

Our parents had made sure that we knew nothing of life’s worries. In those days, I also had dreams. I wanted to see the world. I wanted to find a cure for cancer. I wanted to do so many things. I was as enthusiastic about life as my sister. I loved life. I loved all the people around me.

I had no idea how I had forgotten that time of my life when the sun shone just a little bit brighter, the stars glared with a little bit more dazzle, the wind blew more strongly, and I smiled more happily. I was happy. I was!

I had no idea it was even a possibility for me. But, at that moment, I remembered my smile, my life full of merriment. So, there was more to life after all, I thought. Among the poppies and the silence, I finally heard my heart’s cries.

I realized what was missing, and my hell became my heaven. As deafening as the silence was, it made me listen to what my sister had been trying to say for a long time. Finally, I decided I wanted more. I wanted to be happy once again. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. I was in hell, and there was no way out of it.

That’s the last thing I thought about before I woke up from death. This time in a hospital bed. Farah was asleep in a chair beside my bed. Seeing her face made me genuinely happy. I was back in the world of the living and promised to do better this time around. I planned to live for others.

∞

Oh well, I almost forgot the most important part, I said, looking at the curious faces of my audience.

What’s that? My niece asked.

I was surrounded by my family. My children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren were all there. Everyone had come to visit me now that I was no longer able to leave the house. I was dying, and I knew that in my heart. But things were different this time around.

That’s also how I met your Aunt, I continued. She stole my heart. It was love at first sight.

I want to hear more about Mother, my daughter said. She loved it every time I told the story of how I met Torri in the hospital after my accident.

I had almost died, which had changed the course of my life. But sometimes, I wondered how much of it was because of my near-death experience and how much was because of Torri’s love. She was a doctor who had devoted her entire life to serving humanity. She truly cared about her patients. She brought me back to life, both literally and figuratively.

Where is she now? My grandson, the youngest member of the family, asked. He hadn’t met his grandmother. She died before he was born. To him, she was just a story.

She is in heaven. I smiled sadly.

It was amazing how many emotions I could feel at once. I was happy that I had met Torri. I was sad that I had lost her so soon afterward. And I was hopeful that I would meet her again.

How you live your life determines where you’ll end up after you die. I hoped no one ended up in a silent poppy field, and if they did, they were lucky enough to find their way back the way I did.

I was in limbo for a long time, and then suddenly I was in hell. I did end up getting another chance at life. That life, for me, was heaven, and now I had no regrets. Death was nearby. I knew that. But this time around, I wouldn’t end up anywhere bad. I knew that, too.

My Torri awaits me on the other side, not those dreadful poppies nor that deafening silence, I whispered to myself, closing my eyes and taking one last, deep breath.

Lost in Time

THE MOST IMPORTANT thing in life is to know what isn’t important. It’s better to let go of all the things weighing you down, especially when they don’t matter. Don’t let others tell you how to live your life. Ask yourself, look into your own heart because you already have all the answers you need. That was the advice my mother gave me when I was twelve.

I always listened to my mother because she knew what was best for me. She loved me more than anyone else could, and I knew she would never lead me astray. Even though she was no longer with me I still remembered everything she ever said to me.

She raised me to believe in myself and to be persistent. She always told me the importance of being decisive and never regret things that go wrong. She was a scientist like me, and we knew that life was just an experiment, a trial, and a lot could go wrong.

Life is uncertain, sweetheart. Things can and do go awry, and that’s okay. Mistakes can be corrected, and wrongs can be righted, she would often say, and like a fool, I believed her.

∞

You’re so stubborn. It’s not always a good thing to take risks even if your plan seems perfect, Sandy warned me. Sometimes, instead of going forward, it’s okay to take a left or a right turn.

I don’t care what you think. I love you, but there are things you don’t understand, I replied.

We’ve been friends for ten years now. I know you well enough, she sighed, You’re going to do it, aren’t you?

I must. There is no other way. The day I lost my mother was the worst day of my life. If I can turn back time and save her, I’ll do it at any cost. My mind was made up.

You’re not thinking clearly. She cautioned me again.

I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. I want to do this. This is important to me. I wasn’t the kind of person who changed her mind easily. Once I made a decision, I stood by it.

Why? she asked.

First of all, it’s something that my mother started. She invented this time machine. And somehow, I feel she must’ve wanted me to continue her work. Secondly, I may succeed and save her. I explained it to her as best as I could.

Really? Have you considered that your mother had a good reason to stop working on this experiment when she did? She pointed out.

No, she just wasn’t as stubborn as I am. I winked at her.

It was the truth though. I remembered how passionate she was about time travel. She used to talk about her theories a lot. That was why I wanted to continue it, and I wouldn’t get discouraged. Besides, I was almost there. Everything had been planned to the smallest detail. I knew where I was going and what I must do once I was there. And I planned to return once my mission was complete. My mother’s time machine was operative.

I hope you don’t regret it, Sandy said, sighing a little.

I was annoyed with her for being so negative. Do you think I haven’t considered the dangers involved in this venture? All the things that can go wrong? Trust me, I have. I won’t regret it even if the worst happened.

With that thought in mind, I pressed the button to close the doors. The room I was in went dark. It was a small room, the size of an elevator. There were no windows but a door and mirrors on the three sides. I pressed the red button that would take me back to a time when my mother was still alive.

I wondered how my mother would feel when she found out her time machine worked. She would be so happy. It was unfortunate her life’s work went to waste simply because she wasn’t brave enough to continue her experiments. I was though. I was a risk taker and bet my whole existence on something no one had ever done before.

∞

Some things are just not important, Anna. Someone was speaking in hushed tones. I vaguely recognized the voice. It was never about courage, sweetheart. I knew when to stop. I didn’t give up. Do you think my life’s work was wasted? Dear girl, I invented that machine hoping to discover a way to travel in time. I knew it would work, but testing it was never important. My present was so perfect. I didn’t want to go back in time to change my life. My life with you was perfect.

My head felt weird. I couldn’t feel my limbs. I was hyperventilating. Something was terribly wrong. Where was I? Who was this person whispering in my ear, and what kind of gibberish were they spouting? Nothing was making any sense.

Honey, I love you, know this. The only thing you can do now is let go of the past. Let go of me and live your life for yourself.

That’s the last thing I remembered before I blacked out again.

∞

I woke up in a hospital. I had no idea how I got there. Those words someone had spoken so softly still reverberated in my mind, but they meant nothing to me. It must have been a dream.

Anna, you’re up, the lady from the church said. They say you can return to the orphanage in a few days. Thankfully, nothing was broken.

That’s when I remembered. I had fallen from the tree behind the church and hit my head on the pavement. Ah! So, that’s why it hurt so much. I tried to smile at her, but it was more of a wince.

Don’t worry, you’ll be good as new in no time.

∞

What do you think happened? Sandy asked.

Anna went back in time and lost everything, Mrs. Stevenson replied.

What do you mean? Sandy didn’t understand it.

How much did you girls know about Dana’s project?

We have been working on it for more than six years now. Anna wanted to continue her mother’s experiments. We’ve read all of her notes and instructions. I think we know enough.

You didn’t know the most important part. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let Anna use that machine. Mrs. Stevenson looked disappointed.

What do you mean? Sandy was confused.

What year did she choose to go back to? She asked pointedly.

2023.

Ah! That explains it, then.

What? Sandy was still confused.

She was never born. Mrs. Stevenson was being cryptic.

What do you mean?

"It’s true that Dana’s invention works, but there was a glitch in the system. You cannot go forth in time, only