The Forest of Eternal Depression

Alright, so I wrote this for my Language Arts class a while ago, but I finally transferred it from my school's computer to my laptop, so I'm posting it. For class, it was just a dark bit of fiction, but I really based it off how I feel sometimes.

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The Forest of Eternal Depression

Enter the Forest of Eternal Depression. Its looks may fool you, so beware. Once you enter this beautiful forest, it will be close to impossible to escape. The moment you step foot on the lush green grass, and admire the crimson and gold colored trees, your blood with run cold. You will be consumed with negativity and dread. Elyse Donahue, a girl of fourteen years, steps into the forest, not knowing what awaits her. She is already feeling bitter, but it is nothing compared to how she will soon feel. And now, Elyse is going to have to be as strong as possible, for the Forest of Eternal Depression does not go easy on anyone.

Standing behind a tree is a handsome young man with blond hair and bright green eyes. But a sadistic grin steals from his beauty as he spies his next victim: Elyse Donahue. The young man goes by Luce, and he is going to do everything he can to bring Elyse down. He zones in on her thoughts. Mild hatred towards her mother, fear for her father… Wonderful. Simply Wonderful. Luce approaches the girl, startling her for a moment. Elyse looks at him, eyes puffy and guarded. She wants to know what he wants, but Luce does not answer her question. He steps closer to her, caresses her cheek, calming her. No more questions. He tells her instead that her father can die at any moment. A bomb can drop down into the barracks while he sleeps. He can drop dead from heat, excessive, blistering heat. And Elyse cannot do anything about it. Anything can happen. Elyse shoves Luce away, tears welling out of her eyes. She screams at him to shut up, and she runs away.

Even as Elyse spaces herself from the horrid, but truthful, boy, the thoughts still fill her mind. Anything can happen and there is not anything that she can do for most of it. Elyse and her mother will just continue to fight; Elyse will pretend that she does not cry herself to sleep at night sometimes, thinking of her father. But who says that it is wrong to cry? The thought does not belong to Elyse, but she accepts it momentarily. Crying makes one seem weak, argues a voice in the back of Elyse’s mind. You aren’t weak, cays the foreign voice. It’s a dark voice, and it comes from the boy with shaggy black hair who approaches Elyse now. He appears to be dark and sinister with his sharp gray eyes—gray that almost looks white. Elyse is not frightened though; this figure is helpful. Your father will be fine, the boy says inside Elyse’s mind. The boy is Markus, and he plans to counter whatever Luce does. But sometimes Luce is stronger; the Forest of Eternal Depression favors him the evil. Regardless, Elyse is starting to feel better, but that is not entirely good; that optimism draws Luce back as a fly would be drawn to rotting flesh. Markus disappears, unable to help while Luce is around.

Luce is angry, seething! His attack on Elyse is merciless, and it slices through her week defense as if it is not even there. Death! Loss! You are worthless! Luce screams. Elyse is weak; she is stupid. Elyse can become fatherless at any moment. And it is true…Elyse’s father can die at any time, really. Elyse’s mother even could. And that would bring pain, so much pain. Elyse does not want to ever have to deal with it. Then Luce suggests it—the simple escape. It makes Elyse want to laugh at her own naivety, but she does not. Instead she thinks about it. It can be simple and quick, but if she does not get the job done, she might get shipped off to see some psychologist. Is Elyse even brave enough to draw a blade down her wrist or fix her head in a noose? No… yes? Elyse shrieks, and it feels as if her brain is expanding. A war rages. Optimism against pessimism. Markus against Luce. Elyse’s father versus dying. Elyse’s fears her brain with actually explode. She is so confused!

But then, a voice breaks through the confusion, the voice of the dangerous-looking Markus. It tells her not to give up. Elyse has control. If she gives up, that would be showing extreme weakness. And you are not weak! Markus exclaims. You must play this game called life to the end, be it a natural end, or the end caused by another. But Elyse must not take her own life. She must not give in to her fear and worry. The positive thoughts are flying, acting as gallons of water on the fire that is negativity, putting out. Elyse is going to have a great life. Elyse will have a happy family, but whatever happens, happens. She must not dwell on it. Thank you, Elyse tells Markus, but he is no longer there. The forest itself is dissolving, but it does not matter; Elyse was and is strong. She will not get pulled down into the depths of depression. Elyse has left the glorious forest—the Forest of Eternal Depression. She is now sitting safely on her bed, her eyes still puffy from tears. She has imagined the forest, but that does not make it any less real. Already, the Forest is claiming someone else, and this person may not be strong enough to thwart it.

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Hope you liked it. (: I honestly do believe the Forest exists.