Young Writers Society

     He was sad and alone. Shrouded with thick darkness in the deepest of the Earth, he waited. He waited as days turned to weeks, to months, to years, and to forever. Who was he expecting to come he did not exactly know. His savior could be God, a friend or his father but never his siblings, who did not like him, nor his mother who had left him before he could even learn how to count one to three. But why was he there in the first place? Every day he looked up looking for answers but saw nothing except a tiny light like that one found at the end of a tunnel. But unfortunately, that tiny light never faded as if no one cared enough to come and see him. Still, it did not stop him from believing that someday when he woke up, a rope will be thrown for him to hold on to. He still believed that someday he would be able to see the wonders of the world above. And with faith as his weapon he waited again for years, but as always nothing happened.

     The boy grew tired of his sick daily routine and decided to climb for a change. He realized that none except his own efforts could ease his sufferings and thought that his savior might be doing something more important than his piteous situation. “At least someone`s coming to save me”, he always told himself. Thinking that a rescue was on its way, the boy planned to climb and reach the midpoint of his prison where he will wait for his savior`s arrival. As he was ascending, he came across a horn with a hole on its larger end and then, he decided to stop and see what it was for. After doing all things unimaginable to the horn, he discovered that it produces any food its wielder wished for; from meat to fruits and veggies. The Horn of Plenty (or Cornucopia in Latin) instantly took away his hunger and greatly boosted his confidence on finishing his journey. But due to the abundance he was experiencing, he lost the urge to go upward and continue on. He thought that what was the use of reaching the top when he already had unlimited food the world above was scarce of. But soon he realized, after days of non-stop eating, how fool he was for getting tricked by the horn. The horn was a hindrance in disguise. And with his consciousness back, he continued climbing and threw the horn below.

     Back at the bottom where he spent his childhood it was very cold, but as he climbed higher it started to feel hotter and hotter. He was sweating all over his body, the same feeling two lovers felt as they dance on their lovely night. The cause of the sudden change in temperature was unknown but one thing was for sure, he needed to climb really fast. He stopped to rest for a minute when suddenly a ball of flames hit half of his face. The excruciating pain almost caused him to lose his grip and fall. And alarmed by the attack, he climbed faster than he ever did before despite of flames consuming his head. He succeeded on evading some of the attacks but with its increasing number and faster fire rate, he readied himself for a trip to Hades` realm. But it seemed like luck was on his side this time and he endured even after getting hit on various parts of his body. After climbing for a very long time, the temperature dropped down to its original level hinting that he finally escaped death. He was near his target point when he found another Horn of Plenty, but this time it offers its wielder an unlimited supply of wine. Unexpectedly, the wine had magical properties and instantly healed all his burns. He drank more of it since it made him forget all his sufferings. He became very much addicted to it that he again forgot his very goal. He drank, slept, drank, slept, and drank more. Fortunately, after days of too much drinking, he came back to his senses and knew that the horn was another hindrance. He threw the addiction below and promised himself to not let any of those trick him again.

     Finally, he reached the midpoint of his prison and was very excited knowing that his savior was nearer than ever. “He must be here in a few minutes”, he thought. But still nothing came and he started to doubt everything. Why was his rescue taking so long? Who put him in his prison? Was he locked up or pushed by someone? And if that so, who did it? He had so many questions that only the truth could answer. He had assumed too much that he forgot to see what really happened, the truth that he himself was his own savior from the very beginning. But still, due to his strong faith he removed all his doubts and resumed on climbing. Climbing was harder this time. It was as if gravity was trying to pull him back, and trying to stop him from getting hurt as pieces start to fill the spaces of his life`s puzzle. And as he was climbing, he found a pen and a book with empty pages. Then, he decided the best thing he could do with it and that was to write there his misadventures and how he overcame them. “The world above will know my story someday but it has to wait”, he thought as he started reminiscing his experience from childhood up to now. Writing was not really that hard especially when you enjoy doing it. This was the exact case of the boy who had just finished constructing sentences that best fit his taste.

     After he finished writing, he started to climb again. He was now very near to the top. That tiny light will soon be within his reach with or without his savior`s help. And finally after so many years of struggle he managed to reach his goal which was to escape from his depressing prison. He was very nervous as he put his hands on the edge of the hole but suddenly, a foot stomped on him. If his hands were not stronger than it used to be, he could have fallen. But he endured so much and some foot stomping on him was nothing. With all his might he ascended and readied himself for what he was about to see. The daylight was blinding and as the illumination faded, he saw the reality of his life. He saw his friends looking mad at him, his father who sat on his throne with two wheels and his siblings who looked unhappy by his arrival. In an instant the world he always dreamed of started to crumble and he badly wanted to just disappear with it and to not exist. The scene was really depressing but still he was thankful. Finally, he discovered the truth as well as his potentials. Finally, he did not have to wait for a savior who never existed. And finally, he learned how uglier life could be. He threw the book he had written into the pit and ran. He ran not because he was going to cry but because of his new-found freedom. “Today is the day for a new beginning”, he whispered himself as he ran gleefully away from the crowd.

*Note: The introduction/first paragraph shows how incomplete and empty I felt as a child. I have always wanted someone (savior) to help me enjoy life like other kids do.

*Note : The 2nd paragraph tells how fame/achievements (Horn of Plenty) fed my ego so much that I became too arrogant and lost my direction. But after losing the majority of my friends, I realized how bad I became and then tried to redeem myself by becoming nicer (= by throwing away the source: Horn of Plenty)

*Note: The 3rd paragraph reveals the bullying (ball of flames) I have experienced which resulted in my addiction to alcohol (wine from Horn of Plenty). The bullying also resulted in my suicide attempts (“a trip to Hades` realm”).

*Note: The  4th paragraph shows how doubtful I became with regards to the existence of God (Savior). This is also the part which tells how writing became my only weapon against the unfairness of life.

*Note : This conclusion explains the results of my adventures of self-discovery which were my conversion to atheism and realization of my limitless potentials.