Always Follow Your Heart Shaped Locket

The world Ash woke into was washed out and grey. What color there was had become largely faded from use, and here was no music, and only occasional laughter. It was a world of hard work and survival. The sound of the wind could be heard blowing around the eves of the building. The sun was creeping in through the windows as the morning dawned, but the sun was muted as well. No matter how brightly it burned in the sky, it's light could never fully penetrate the eternal haze that always hung in the sky, and irritated the worker's noses and throats.

Although the world was grey, and all seemed bleak, Ash had within her hands a heart-shaped locket on a fine golden chain. She clasped this one bright gleaming figment of her world tightly in her hands admiring it as it glinted in the dim light. It was time to begin her day of work, so she carefully placed the chain and locket around her neck, and concealed it beneath her blouse.

In the corner, there was a small washing stand with an ewer filled with water, and a shallow bowl for washing. Ash had prepared the water the night before, knowing that washing her face in the clear water would help her feel better when she woke. While washing she began to feel black thoughts come over her mind, but then she remembered her locket and how it shined. She was instantly drawn away from the painful thoughts and began to feel hopeful again. The heart-shaped locket had been her guiding light her whole life, and the older she got the more she seemed to realize how important it was to her.

A bell began tolling from deep within the house, signaling that work would begin within the hour. And there was always work to be done. The community survived on each other’s hard work. Ash straightened her clothing and took a quick look in the mirror, thinking about her face as it stared back at her. Her eyes were dark and deep, and she began to feel uneasy looking into them. Ash decided it was time to go. She crossed the room to the only door in her room, and grasped the doors handle. It was well word with use, and the handle squeaked slightly as she opened the door, stepping into the hallway outside.

All around her she could hear the sounds of the other workers beginning their day. It was a large house, containing nearly twenty rooms, and many twisting passages, but Ash knew every twist and turn with perfect accuracy. Everyone who lived with her was considered equal, a part of the same whole. To survive in the harsh world, the household had to work smoothly, and there were many tasks undertaken by specific workers. The house and its occupants were an island unto themselves, surrounded by wild wilderness and vast expanses empty of humanity. All the workers knew they had to work together to survive.

Ash often felt the harsh wilderness outside mirrored within her. Inside her mind and heart, she felt vast expenses and often bitter emptiness. But when these perceptions came, she remembered her heart-shaped locket, and how it gleamed. Her guiding star always drew her out of such painful illusions back to where she could see the sunshine, and to a place where she could feel love. Life was harsh, but it was life, and happiness dwelled there despite all the challenges. Her locket always reminded her of these truths.

Ash’s feet echoed on the floorboards as she walked, taking a turn here, and a turn there. She passed several other workers on their way to their daily work for the household. Finally, she came to a stairwell and descended to the first story of the building. At the bottom of the stairwell Ash took another passage to her right, and stepped through a large doorway into the household’s kitchen. There before her were several other workers who greeted her. The matron of the household was just leaving after having her breakfast.

The matron knew all her workers by name, and also knew all of their stories in detail. She was the mastermind behind the household. ”Hello Ash. Have your breakfast and be happy for the day that is given to you.” Ash and all the other workers admired the matron and loved her. She was kind, and warm, and could see the deepest truths about life. She kept morale up within the community, even in the face of the dangers and darkness of the world, and the darkness in the minds of the workers. Ash stood looking down at her feet as the matron passed by her. “Thank you, mam.” The matron smiled, and then left the room taking her warmth with her.

Ash sat down at a long table, and one of the kitchen workers brought her a bowl of food. All of the food the community had was gathered either from the wilderness around the household, or grown and prepared by the household workers. There was an orchard, and gardens, and a well with clean water which was very fortunate. But even though the workers had the understanding to grow plants, they always struggled to grow things in the lack of light and perpetual cold. The sky was constantly in a faded haze, that kept even the warmest summers cool, and made the winters bitter and harsh.

In her bowl, there was venison, cheese, and root vegetables. This was a feast for any worker, although the portions were small. The matron knew the community operated on its stomach, and did her best to promote healthy diets. Along with her food, she was given a cup of water. Ash began to eat and drink, knowing that work had to begin shortly. She made it a point to be thankful for her blessings, and absent-mindedly felt the locket through her blouse while she ate.

When her bowl was empty, and her glass dry, she knew it was time to begin. She stood and placed her chair neatly into its place. Gathering her empty bowl and cup, she walked out a door on the side of the kitchen, stepping into the household’s washroom. In the center of the room there was a large tub made of metal, and already her coworker Michael was carrying buckets of water in from the well in the garden outside. “Good morning Ash, we had better get moving. The day is drawing on.” The work was hard, but she and Michael always made light work of it somehow.” Ok Michael I’m coming.”

Ash placed her bowl and cup in the washing tub with all the other dirty bowls, cups, and kitchenware. Michael had set his bucket down, and was starting a fire under the tub to heat the water. There was a large vent above the washbasin for smoke to escape through the roof. Ash admired Michael’s fire-making skills, a task she had always struggled with. “I will get more water while you work on the fire Michael.” Ash knew it would take about six trips with both her and Michael carrying a single bucket of water each to cover the dishes. She was thankful the matron recognized the importance of teamwork, and allowed all the workers to always have a partner. “OK, as soon as I have the fire going, I will join you.”

Ash picked up an empty bucket and opened the door to the side garden. “OK Michael, thank you” As she stepped outside, she felt the crisp air of the early morning, and her nose, throat, and eyes began to burn from the contaminates in the air. She had expected the challenging atmosphere, having gotten used to dealing with it. Before her was a paved path, and at the end of the path there stood a stone-lined well covered with a small roof.

After a short walk, Ash arrived at the well, and set her bucket down so she could begin drawing water. The well had a bucket of its own affixed to a long length of rope. Ash began using the bucket and rope to fill her own bucket. Once her bucket was full, she started the journey back to the kitchen, laboring under the weight of the water. She struggled a little with the door, and once inside she began to dump the water into the tub, being careful not to splash the fire. As she was emptying her water, Michael was finishing with the fire. Ash watched as Michael stood and grabbed a second empty bucket that was sitting near the wall. “Shall we finish this task Ash?” Michael was smiling, and Ash turned to join him now that her bucket was empty too. “Yes let's.” She was smiling back, and the warmth they shared was soothing. They worked well together, and had performed this task many times.

In this way, the two workers went about filling the washtub, making small trips back and forth between the washroom and the well, until all the dishes were covered in water. By the time the dishes were covered, they were both tired, deciding to pause long enough to have some water themselves. Ash was feeling sore in her arms, and began to slip into dark thoughts again. Often she got thoughts that scared her. Thoughts that spoke of the hopelessness and meaninglessness of life. These thoughts told her there was no point in any of it, and why should she even try. But as soon as they came, she felt her heart-shaped locket on her breast, and the reminder pulled her back to reality.

Ash looked up and saw Michael touching his heart-shaped locket as well. She realized he to had been in dark thoughts. “It’s OK Michael, the thoughts aren’t real. They are only thoughts.” Michael turned to look at her as if awakening from a bad dream, and smiled. All traces of disquiet had vanished from his face. “Yes, you are right. Thank you, Ash. I’m thankful for the matron, and what she has done for us.” As they stood together, they both understood just how much their lockets had become their guiding star.

As their day continued, they worked together to carry the burden of their tasks. Together they scrubbed the dishes, and then began laundry in the same tub, washing with sticks to beat the filth out of the clothing. After finishing the laundry, they continue on to several other tasks before their workday was finished. Around them, many other workers were going about their tasks as well. There were gatherers, and hunters. Farmers, and fishermen. And every one of them had a heart-shaped locket to guide them. In the center of the household was the matron who loved them all. The matron knew that all was perfect in the world, despite what meets the eye. She knew that every aspect of life was exactly as it should be, and that the world reflected the nature of the worker's minds.

She knew the world was in its current state because of the darkness in the collective minds of humanity, and she knew that to correct the darkness and the world, you had to correct the darkness in the mind's of the people. She was the guiding truth, and inspiration for the household, and she taught and lived the truth. Although the world was a wild, dark, and vast expanse of wilderness, the matron held the household together. This is why the matron in her wisdom had given each of the workers a heart-shaped locket. She knew they needed something to remind them of what was real; a reminder of the perfection of all that is. She wanted to impart the truth she carried within her to her workers. A reminder that even in the darkest of times, and the blackest of nights nothing is ever lost, and is only ever reborn. A reminder to always follow your heart-shaped locket.