The Real-world of a little girl

A fierce, stormy, snowy night stretched across a vast, barren, icy desert, but light still shone from a small house there. The weather outside was so harsh and deadly that there was no hope for life in sight. The sky seemed to be weeping, its tears touching the ground below. Amid the fierce, icy winds, when the sound of bombs and bullets echoed through the atmosphere, it felt as if a bloodthirsty wolf was tearing out a human’s heart and devouring it right before their eyes.

All that could be seen on the earth was the devastation caused by war. There wasn’t a single patch of land left untouched by blood, where happiness and peace had not been obliterated. Mangled, lifeless bodies lay scattered everywhere, carrying with them unfulfilled desires. Now, only silent despair, loneliness, and the echoes of agonized screams filled the walls of each home.

Among these countless cries, one silent scream echoed across that barren, icy desert. Elicia, curled up in her grandfather’s lap, was repeating just one thing, again and again: “I want my father, I want my mother,” “I want my father, I want my mother.” This was a wish her grandfather could not fulfill, no matter how hard he tried. The two people that the little girl was calling for had once promised her that they would return to her soon, that they were only going away for a short while. But that brief separation had now transformed into an endless void. For the five-year-old girl, being apart from her parents meant living in an empty world, a world missing the two people who could have made her life whole. This war had taken everything from Elicia; her parents were caught in a brutal bombing in the city and lost their lives. Elicia had barely survived the attack with her grandfather, but the little girl didn’t know where her parents were now.

Her desire to meet her parents only grew with each passing day. Every day, thousands of times, she would say, “I want my father, I want my mother,” “I want my father, I want my mother.” Her grandfather grew increasingly anxious, unsure of how he could explain to the child that her parents were never coming back.

One day, when Elicia repeated those words, her grandfather held her in his lap and said, “My sweet girl, do you know? After tonight, every morning you wake up, you will find yourself in a new world. And one day, you will reach the world where your parents are. Remember, now you have the power to turn your dreams into reality. Whatever you imagine will come true.”

Hearing this brought some comfort to Elicia, and that night when she fell asleep, she found herself lost in numerous dreams. In one dream, she saw herself riding a large white swan, soaring above the clouds, holding onto its neck as they flew. In another dream, she saw herself leading a multitude of animals, sitting on a great white bear with other animals following her in a herd. She was the queen of those animals, and all of them obeyed her. Elicia didn’t realize when the night turned into morning. When she opened her eyes, she could hardly believe what she saw: the scenes from her dreams were vividly painted across the four walls and ceiling of her room.

Her eyes sparkled with wonder, and as she gazed at the images on the walls, she forgot everything else. She was now truly convinced that she would one day reach that real world and meet her parents.

Eager to share her excitement, Elicia ran around the house searching for her grandfather, and, taking his hand, brought him into the room. “Look, look here, Grandpa,” she said, “all the things I dreamed of last night, they’re here on the walls of our house. Can you see them, Grandpa?”

“Yes, my dear, I can see everything that you see. It’s incredible, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Grandpa, but do you know how my dreams are appearing on our walls?” Elicia asked in her innocent tone.

“God created these for you, my sweet girl. He wants you to meet your parents,” her grandfather replied eagerly.

Elicia continued gazing in awe at the scenes on the walls; she could see herself riding a large, white, shimmering swan, flying through the sky.

After a while, her grandfather said, “My dear, our food supplies are running low, so I am going to the forest to gather some fruit and other things to eat. I may not return until nightfall, so don’t wait up for me. Go to sleep. If I don’t come back tonight, don’t worry; I am always with you, no matter what happens.

“Tonight, you will meet your parents. But if you don’t sleep, you may never see them again.”

Elicia replied, “Okay, Grandpa, I hope you return soon. I’ll be waiting for you.”

And so, day turned to night, but Elicia’s grandfather did not return. The child waited all day, but he didn’t come back. Elicia remembered his words, that she must sleep tonight if she wanted to see her parents. Her grandfather had saved two apples for her, so she ate one and then lay down in bed.