Never had I entertained the notion of fantasy; from my earliest memories, the whimsical tales of Santa Claus or other supernatural beings failed to captivate even a sliver of my belief. Perhaps it stemmed from the absence of parental warmth, yet such conjectures seemed irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I, Enma Yoshida, existed as little more than a blank canvas traversing the monotonous cycle of life: eat, work, sleep, repeat. Marriage? Doubtful. My mind was preoccupied with more pressing matters, like meeting deadlines to avoid the wrath of a boss who had made a sport of chewing out subordinates for half a decade. This world held scant allure, leaving me to ponder whether my continued existence held any purpose at all. Such was my conviction, until one fateful morning when destiny unfurled an extraordinary path before me—a path so improbable and fantastical that even the most imaginative minds of my time would have struggled to conceive it.
Another mundane day began with the piercing sound of my alarm clock, a relentless reminder of the monotonous routine awaiting me. Dragging myself out of bed, I went through the motions of morning rituals—breakfast, teeth brushing, and the inevitable encounter with my stale corporate suit. But as I opened the wardrobe door, anticipating the familiar scent of polyester, I was startled by a sudden gust of wind that tousled my carefully combed hair and sent work documents swirling in a chaotic dance around the room. A blinding light pierced through the shirts, illuminating the interior like the dawn breaking on a crisp morning.
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"What on earth!?" I exclaimed, my voice echoing in the unexpected silence that followed. Instead of the expected rows of neatly arranged attire, I was greeted by a breath taking sight—a vast expanse of vibrant colours stretching out before me, like a masterpiece come to life. It was a scene straight out of a fantasy, an image I could scarcely believe was real.
"What is this?" I mused, my curiosity piqued by the surreal landscape unfolding before me. Despite the weight of my mundane responsibilities and the relentless grind of daily life, I felt an unfamiliar surge of excitement coursing through me. Without hesitation, I stepped through the wardrobe door, the sensation of solid ground beneath my feet a stark contrast to the uncertainty swirling within me.
As I surveyed my surroundings, a sense of wonder enveloped me, washing away the worries and frustrations of the world I had left behind. But when I turned to retrace my steps, intending to catch my train as planned, I found only emptiness.
"huh"