There were the two, there always were the two.

He: On the rational side of the mirror, where the kingdom of science decided fates of the universe.

She: On the other side of the portal, in the wonderland, where bare dreams dictated the way of living.

Staring at his own reflection, the boy despised what he saw, years passed by and nothing changed. He couldn't even adhere to a few simple laws, cursed by his animal instincts.

Staring at her own reflection, the girl was content with what she saw, years passed by and everything changed. There were no laws in her land, since everything existed in harmony.

Dreams were everything the boy had, but lately, he couldn't even dream. The routine of his sickness killed him slowly, he was on a verge of giving up. Why was everything gradually taken away from him?

He didn't protest, it could be a punishment for stealing from the kingdom, after all, nothing belonged to him. It was only gifted, for a time being.

Dreams were nothing to the girl who could have everything with a flick of a finger, but lately, she had a lot of nightmares. Although every next dawn brought her new gifts to forget the woes, fear consumed her. She was never going to give up. Why would she? Everything would be gifted to her If she only wished.

So she protested to the skies, to the waters, to the earth, and to the fire. It couldn't be a punishment, but perhaps it was a gift from the wonderland, one she never would wish for. Everything belonged to her, but it was the first thing she wanted to cast away.

The boy grabbed his guitar, but he couldn't play the melody anymore. His fingers were like tangled by an invisible web, barely moving across the strings. Notes were hardly audible, random, and disorganized – it started to rain.

The girl grabbed her harp and played a beautiful melody with an ominous undertone. Her fingers were shifting elegantly and decisively, although their movement was like of a spider crafting his web – the rain stopped and a rainbow appeared in the sky.

The boy stared at the window, the rain turned into a storm unlike any he had seen before. The wires outside were torn apart by the heavy wind and sudden darkness engulfed his city.

Another day would be lost, the multimedia and influx of the information were the last few things he enjoyed.

Nothing left, but to mindlessly pull the strings.

The girl shut her windows, ready to sleep in peaceful weather. The rainbow she summoned attracted prismatic hummingbirds, which sang her a lullaby that would shroud her home in a bed of flowers.

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Another night would be gifted, although it was the only thing she did not enjoy.

Everything would become hers, she masterfully guided her spirits.

The boy pulled the strings, dreaming once more, of calm after the storm – of green grass, dark skies full of stars, and of an endless ocean before him, reflecting the far lights.

He would sit there, just staring, forgetting about responsibilities, forgetting the laws, forgetting his curse.

The girl guided her spirits to lay her to sleep, the nightmare was gone. Instead, she dreamt of nothing. A vast void surrounded her and she was alone. No purple leaves, falling slowly between rows of maple trees. No white soil beneath her bare feet, soft and warm.

She would just stand there, recalling all her hopes, recalling the dreams, recalling her blessings.

The boy's soothing melody started playing, perhaps for the last time.

He was waiting here, endlessly, for the things that will never come.

Staring at the door, which always remained closed.

Just like this, his fingers stopped, and the dream was gone.

The girl's horrifying scream echoed throughout the abyss, the first time in her life.

She wouldn't stay here, not for a moment longer, losing the gifts that always came to her.

She closed her eyes and it was like a window opened.

Just like this, her hand extended, and the nightmare had begun.

The boy stood in front of a mirror and laughed, it was a mocking laugh. There was no reflection in the dark. Yet, he knew what he would see, he laughed harder and tears started rolling down his cheeks.

The girl stood in front of a portal and cried, it was a happy cry. There was a reflection in the light. She didn't know what it was, but her cry lessened, tears stopped dwelling in her eyes.

He: "You, there. Why won't you just die already?"

She: "You, there. Why won't you just live already?"

They both heard a foreign voice in their head, the counterstatement of their own desires.

He: "Because I've nothing to live for."

She: "...because, I've got every reason to live."

He: "..."

She: (Laughs)

The boy heard a laugh, like out of his world, it was comforting to his mind, yet his heart ached.

The girl heard a cry, like out of her world, it was disquieting to her heart, yet her mind was calm.

She: "It'll be alright."

He: "It'll only get worse."

She: "You don't know it, every day is a new beginning."

He: "It's like you know everything, yet no day is any different."

She: "I will gift you the whole sky, the clearest of waters, a solid ground, and the fire of passion."

Yet, he couldn't fly. Yet, his glass was empty and dry, yet his legs were shaking, yet he was cold.

Yet, he wouldn't call the voice a liar.