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I wake up to nothing but darkness and pressure. I was just dreaming, I think. There was an empty field of grass, or was it really empty? People, no - gems, standing and smiling. Beautiful and full of life. Before that happened in the dream there was… I can’t picture it. It’s indescribable, and it took so long. So, so long, how could I have forgotten it all? Was what happened in that dream important?
I want to lay here, to fall back to sleep, but there’s a nagging. Something I have to do… So tired. But up, my arms dig, through heavy sand. Water collapses into my tunnel, bringing light with it. Up I swim into the light.
It’s daytime. The sand settles on the ocean floor around me. The weightlessness of the water is relieving compared to the weight of the earth I was under before, but still all I can do is crawl along the sandy sea floor. Up and up, that’s probably where I have to go… the water’s surface is getting closer. My head clears the water but it becomes so heavy. I can only drag myself halfway onto the shore, underneath a familiar rock outcropping. Did I come here in the dream too? I think I met someone here, once, while the sun was setting.
I want to see that person again. They were someone important, who makes my chest flutter when I think of them. Out of nervousness, or love? Certainly they were wise, and they always stayed true to themselves, yet they were lonely. But at some point I let them down. That’s not a surprise, I let everyone down. Hopefully they will be forgiving when we meet again.
I cling desperately on to the feeling of that gemstone’s character even though it’s crumbling through my fingertips. How… How can we reunite if I don’t remember anything about them. They weren’t the only one too, dozens of crystal organisms were once dear to me, their personalities and luster as colorful as wildflowers. For some reason I’m struck by the nostalgic image of a leafy-haired teal gemstone. I feel nothing special about them, but they’re so clear in my mind. “Hey you!” They exclaim with playful smarm, “My Faithful minion. Would you be so kind as to pray for me?”
Pray! That’s what I’m supposed to do. Pray for happiness. What a strange mission. To pray is to deconstruct something into nothingness, sending it to an alternate universe so that it can never be found. But happiness? What is happiness? Again I imagine the teal-haired gemstone, lying wistfully in their empty field.
“Green stone,” I ask, “What does happiness mean?”
“I don’t know exactly, maybe the feeling you get while you’re doing something you like?”
“Thank you.” I reply. I liked thinking about the crystal lifeforms, even if I can’t remember their names or faces, so I do. They give each other flower crowns in the spring, run through the summer grass, tell stories in the autumn, and huddle up for winter. Loving each other and the world they live in. The way they sparkle and laugh is so pure, everything is alright.
I wish nothing would ever interrupt their happiness.