I am Rebby. I am 6 years old. Right now, I am all alone in my house and it is night. My parents have gone out somewhere and I am feeling very lonely. On my 2nd birthday, my parents bought me a dog. I called her Lily. She is my only friend in the whole world. I wonder where she went. Mom had told me that she gone somewhere far. I have been waiting for her to come to since morning. Maybe I should try to find her?
I started searching for her. I searched my room to see if she was hiding under the bed like always. She sometimes used to sleep with me on the bed. I couldn’t find her. I tried to search for her in the living room. She used to lie down there on matt. I couldn’t find her. I tried to search for her in my parent’s room. She often used to howl at night and wake them up. I tried to search for her in the bathroom. She liked sleeping there since it was so cold. I couldn’t find her.
I couldn’t find Lily anywhere in the house. I was feeling so scared. I thought that maybe she went out of the house. I didn’t like going out. It was so lonely and gloomy out there. I didn’t know anyone outside. But if Lily had gone outside, then I had no chance, she could have been hurt. I had to find her. After all, she was my only friend.
I opened the door and walked outside. I was feeling as if I was walking towards a world of darkness.
As I walked outside, I found that I had entered a world of darkness. It was so scary. There was no light. Everything was pitch black. I tried to walk forward. I said in a soft voice “Lily, are you there, can you hear me, Please come towards me. I am feeling very lonely.” I kept on walking forward without any destination in sight. I walked for a long time. Finally I saw something. I saw a figure. I came closer to it and saw that it was the figure of a man. I saw that he was very old and very white. I could see through him, it was as if he was transparent.
The old man asked me “Hello, little girl, Are you looking for something?”
I replied, “I am looking for my dog”
The old man said “You should ask the gatekeeper here. He is responsible for all the people here.”
I asked “Where can I find him”
The old man said “You just have to move forward. Everyone eventually finds him.”
I said “Thank you”
The old man said “You are welcome. Now I must go. My wife is waiting for me on the other side. I am going to finally meet her after twenty years.
With that, the old man went. I could see him glowing. I wonder who he was. I continued to move forward. As walked I could finally see a door. The door was glowing in this darkness just like that old man. There was a figure standing in front of the door. He was wearing some black cloth like a blanket covering his whole figure. I couldn’t see his face. He was holding a long stick with his hand. There was a sharp thing attached to the stick.
I was scared, but I wanted to see Lily no matter what. She was after all my only friend in the whole world. I came closer to the figure.
I asked with a trembling voice” Excuse me, are you the gatekeeper here?”
The cloaked person didn’t reply. I thought maybe he didn’t notice me. I asked again feeling very scared. He didn’t reply again. I waited for some time. It was getting very late and I was feeling very sleepy. I remember my mother telling me that I was going to start school tomorrow so I should have a good sleep. She told me in school, there are lots of people. I didn’t want to go as I only liked to stay in the house with Lily, since I felt very safe and happy. I asked the cloaked figure again and this time I didn’t tremble or felt scared. I wanted to find Lily.
I asked “Are you the gatekeeper?”.
This time the figure did reply. He simply nodded his head. I asked him “Can you help me find my dog?”
The cloaked figure simply opened the door and pointed towards to it. I went inside it and I saw that everything was white. There was so much light that I couldn’t see anything. I kept moving forward. Suddenly I saw Lily in front of me. She was standing near a train. She was glowing just like that old man. I ran towards her and hugged her. Suddenly I started crying. I told her with eyes full of tears “Lily, where had you gone. Mom had told me that you are not coming back. I was waiting for you since morning”.
Lily simply licked me. I felt that she was happy. I was also happy but there was sadness inside my. What did mom meant when she told me that Lily was not coming back.
I told Lily “Lily, come on let us go home. Let’s go back to where we belong”.
But Lily refused to move. I tried to lift her but for some reason she was very heavy. Suddenly I heard the train giving the siren for leaving. I noticed that the cloaked figure was standing just behind me. The figure finally spoke.
He said in a calm voice “She needs to go”.
I saw Lily and noticed that she had to get on the train. If not then she would be forever be stuck here. I didn’t want her to be in such a lonely place. I lifted my hands off Lily. Lily looked at me with her gentle eyes. I told Lily “Go on Lily, you have to get on the train. I have to let you go.”
Lily boarded the train. The train started to leave and as it left I also saw the old man sitting in it. The train had gone completely. I just stood there. Tears were flowing from my face. I was feeling very sad and lonely. I was also feeling very sleepy.
But for some reason, I was not feeling scared. The figure was standing in front of me and told me “Now you must return home”. Suddenly I could no longer stay awake and I felt asleep.
I woke up soon. I was in my room. Lily was not here and I know why. Mom came to me and said “Honey, it’s time for you to get ready. You don’t want to miss the first day of your school”.
I got ready and had my breakfast with my parents. I went towards the door with mom. Mom told me “Honey I know you are sad about Lily, but you need to…”
I said calmly “It’s okay mom. I know Lily has gone somewhere far away. I am feeling sad, but I am not feeling scared or lonely anymore.”
Mom was quite surprised to hear my response. She said “Well, that’s good. You are growing up so fast.”
I knew what I had to do. I had to move forward. I opened the door and the feeling of loneliness and fear had completely disappeared. I couldn’t wait to go to school and see what kind of place it was. I wanted to make some friends. I was feeling happy. My mother was also happy.
I looked into the sky and felt that someone up there was also happy.
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