It was with relief that I found my refuge—tucked away behind the University, close to the edge of the law-protected forest—completely deserted that night. After weeks of being occupied by parties and stoners, who sprawled in the corners, my sacred space was free again. That place was truly a paradise amidst the hell of that university. A hidden gem, where I used to count stars to escape reality.
I sat on one of the rocks that rose before the trees, knees pulled up. I looked skyward and began counting the stars. I spent a long time there. Two hundred, maybe three—I’d already lost track. My thoughts were racing. I rested my head between my legs and closed my eyes. The week had been considerably difficult up to that point, and before I knew it, I'd already collapsed into tears. I took out my phone and, determined to calm my mind, opened Wattpad in search of a story to distract me. By the time I decided on a fantasy tale, the tears had already subsided, and my mind was completely immersed in that world.
I had been there for some time when I felt a calm, serene female voice calling my name. It was only when I heard it repeated a second time that I truly believed my ears and, suspicious, raised my head to look for whoever was calling me. There was no one. No matter how hard I strained my eyes, I saw nothing, and yet, my hearing picked up a third call. The words came from the forest, and, though quite suspicious, I entered the damp undergrowth.
The forest was dark. Although I could see nothing but branches and roots, I could clearly make out the sounds of small animals in the darkness. The voice continued to call my name, and I walked on, without looking back. After a while, I suspected I heard the sound of running water—impossible, there was no river inside the university—and it grew louder and louder. My clothes were heavy, and I began to wonder why I was carrying so much gear—gear?
The sky was visible the entire way, but unfortunately, there was no moon to guide me, which had caused me to trip over all sorts of things many times. The voice, soft as the wind, warmed me from within. It seemed to come from something very ancient, something I somehow already knew. After a few minutes, I reached a clearing, cut by a dark stream—how was that possible? In the middle of the stream, on a small island, stood a massive tree with leafy branches that seemed to touch the sky, emanating a vivid green glow. Drawn by the voice, which appeared to reverberate with the movement of the branches in the night breeze, I approached in disbelief.
I crossed the stream using the thick roots of the ancient tree and reached its mighty trunk. Its leaves shimmered with a mysterious green light, and the air was filled with a scent I did not know—yet that felt strangely familiar.
"So you finally decided to answer my call." I was startled by the clarity of the voice coming from the tree, its tone mixed with malice and irony.
After steadying myself, I searched for the source of the voice, but couldn't find it. Deep grooves in the bark seemed to form an ancient face—this was madness.
"You're not going crazy." I shuddered at the possibility of someone guessing what I was thinking. "Indeed, it's me speaking."
"You? The tree?" I asked in disbelief.
"You took your time. I feared you might be too late, but I knew you would come. After all, I could only wait."
"What are you talking about? How is this possible? What the hell are you?"
"I am Aldaband, the world tree. My branches bear the future ramifications of history, and my roots grow with the records of the past. I am now, yesterday, and tomorrow, and yet, I am nothing but a tree."
"This is crazy, how can I be talking to a tree?" I asked, shaken.
"That doesn't matter. You know you've always seen the world differently. Always seen beyond. Always sensed there was something more. Something hidden." Her calm, measured voice exuded confidence. "This is your chance to discover the truth about yourself and the world."
My blood surged with excitement. I finally felt understood.
“Are you serious? What do I have to do?”
A creak of wood and the rustle of leaves permeated the night. Anxious, I stared at the trunk as an opening appeared where the grooves had been, about the height of my arm and the size of a fist.
"You just need to place your arm here, and my vines will transfer my sacred sap into your blood." Eager, I obeyed.
When the vines tore my skin and the sap flowed in, all I felt was pain as my vision turned completely green.
"Finally!" The tree's voice of relief was ominous.
All my limbs went rigid. Only silence remained. When I realized what had happened, I was overcome by a disturbing anguish. The transfer had worked—how foolish I was! There, bound to the trunk of the majestic tree and alone, at the peak of my madness, I tried desperately to count the stars again, clinging to the hope it was all a mistake, or a dream.
"I'm under an unfamiliar sky." No matter how many times I recounted, those weren't the stars I knew.
Lowering my gaze to the waters around the tree, I saw that the stars reflected there were not the same as those above. These, I recognized.
My cell phone lay on the ground, lit.
My branches swayed in the wind.
I looked upward and began to count the stars. By the time I realized it, I had already burst into tears.
After all, all I could do was wait. Fearing it wasn't too late.
I had finally escaped reality.
This story was originally published in Portuguese (BR) in December, 2016 in WattPad.
As an entry in a contest (The Short Story Cup), it got shortlisted in 9th place between 120 stories. The theme:
”I got sucked into Wattpad. What now?”