The music drifted out of the club like a vibrating pulse. I could feel it in my bones. The night was alive with possibility. I could even imagine myself…
…becoming who I once was. And it all started with two strangers.
A couple of years ago my parents were fed up with me not doing anything so they kicked me out. My girlfriend left me. And my friends constantly reminded me how much I’ve changed. So instead of facing them I decided to hide from them by finding shelter in a small studio apartment across town. Working a low paying call center job from a nearly broken chair in the corner of an even more broken room. Most days spent with the blinds keeping out all light.
It was all so weird. I wasn’t always like that. When I was younger I felt like I could do anything. I was a young and fearless boy with an endless amount of dreams. Dreams that I just knew I’d one day paint to my reality. But life didn’t work out that way. And somewhere along the line I lost my paintbrush.
As I got older my eyes began to see the truth in life. The reality that there are millions of people with endless dreams and potential yet they still somehow end up failing. And their names become nothing more than a leaf that blows in the wind.
And for some reason that thought strangled my dreams to death. Or, maybe it was me that died. For I realized there was nothing that made me special. Nothing that made me different from those that have failed before me.
It’s that realization that caused my life to start spiraling out of control. My motivation quickly decreasing and I eventually giving up.
At some point my parents even tried to convince me to take a couple of days off from work to get tested for depression. But I knew I wasn’t depressed. I was simply enlightened.
As I’d sit in a tiny room with a leaky faucet and restless neighbors that couldn’t seem to get along, I couldn’t help but think about how much I changed. How I lost myself to doubt.
But one night was different. I stood from my squeaky bed and grabbed my phone and noticed more text from my loved ones checking on me. Asking me how I was. And though I would’ve loved to answer them, I didn’t even know the answer to that question anymore.
So I ignored them. I jammed the phone into my tattered jacket. And I headed out the door. Hungry for food and nothing more.
It’s been a while since I walked those streets that late. But something deep within kept telling me to get some fresh air and wouldn’t let me rest until I did.
The night was chilly, but the cold on my face was still warm compared to what I felt towards my reflection in the mirror.
Not long after walking I found a place with a smell that pulled me in. As I walked through the door I noticed it was empty. It was just me and the pretty girl that stood at the counter waiting to take my order.
As her lips creased and she smiled at me, I got nervous.
“Welcome! What would ya like?”
I looked away from her gaze, luckily already having glanced at the menu, “I’ll try the jumbo jump pizza slice. Meat lovers.”
“Ah, great choice! You can sit where ever you like. I’ll bring that to you in a bit,” she winked at me.
I briefly walked around the small restaurant and couldn’t help but notice how vibrant the colors of the walls were. I then found a seat that allowed me to watch as the girl worked and moved around the kitchen. She was the only employee that night.
“Here we are!” Her cheerful voice rang in my ears. “Hope ya like it.”
Before I could say thank you she was already back at the counter taking the order of some guy that just stumbled in. Clearly intoxicated from the sin of nightlife.
I took a bite of that giant slice of pizza and instantly knew why the place had awards and famous people all over the walls. But also confused on why there wasn’t a single other person there.
As I started to close my eyes and take another bite I was startled by the sound of a seat scrapping against the floor and the drunken guy sitting right in front of me.
“Mind if I sit?”
Of course I mind. Why would I want to sit with a drunk, “not at all.”
“Thanks, man.”
The smell of alcohol reeked on him, but I refused to let his unwanted company distract me from this amazing meal. So I ignored his smell and focused on the flavors that filled my tongue with temporary happiness.
“Life’s not going your way, huh?”
“What?” His question caught me off guard. “What makes you say that?”
“I can feel it. You’re not happy with life. Are you?”
He stared at me with knowing eyes and I couldn’t help but look away. “Of course I am.”
He laughed, “well of course you are.”
Soon after, his food arrived. And there was a brief silence until we finished.
At some point the silence was broken, though. And we started talking to each other. And in some weird way, after a couple of hours passed that drunken man started to grow on me.
As the conversation started to reach its conclusion he grabbed a napkin and wrote something on it.
“If you’re not doing anything next weekend meet me here. Let’s party.” He points to the waitress, “she’ll be coming too.”
I watched as he walked back to the counter and talked to her a bit. Giving her a long hug before walking out the door. I looked down at the napkin and noticed his name was Wilson. And that the address was not too far away. But other than that not much else was written other than him telling me to wear something nice casual and putting a time and date.
As I laid in bed that night I couldn’t help but think about that encounter. And everyday after my mind continued to wonder. So when the day finally came, I found myself foolishly standing in massive empty space waiting for two strangers.
After about an hour I realized how dumb I was. Of course it was a prank. How could I have believed the words of a drunken man.
So with my head down I turned around and began to walk away.
“Hey!” I looked up and saw Wilson and that waitress running up to me. “So sorry, man. We were waiting on you then just before takeoff I realized I gave you the wrong location. I was pretty drunk that night.”
“It’s okay,” I said. Finally noticing that this guy that I once met super intoxicated is now dressed in the most finest jewels and clothing I’ve ever seen before. “Where are we going?”
“Out of the country of course. Not much to do here.”
And as we walked I thought it was a joke. At least until we made it to his all black private jet. And that’s when I realized how wealthy he really was. And on that plane is where I found out the pretty girls name was Myla.
Once we landed I had doubts about my decision. I willingly hopped on a plane with two complete strangers that wanted to go to a foreign country for one night. Clearly I wasn’t thinking straight.
It was late, but that was their intent. To arrive with just enough time to stop by a lofty penthouse suite too big for the three of us and then make it to some party. I still can’t believe there are people with such lifestyles as that.
With a quick Uber we arrived downtown in a city where the roads were paved in cobblestone. We walked for a few minutes and soon arrived at a magnificently gigantic and ancient looking building. The sound of music rattling the ground beneath me.
“Here we are. One of my absolute most favorite places. And somewhere I think you can find happiness.”
From the moment I walked in I was completely speechless. I’ve never seen anything like it. And for a moment I even thought I was dreaming.
It was like I walked into a portal that took me into something like the rainforest. There were trees that stretched to the ceiling. Flowers I’ve never seen scattered about the ground. A waterfall that streamed from the ceiling and it smelled of alcohol. A pool with people standing, swimming and dancing around it. Acrobats swinging from vines above my head. A DJ playing music that made my body feel light. And much much more. It was all straight out of a book. And it was a lifestyle I wanted for myself, but I knew it wasn’t attainable for someone like me. So I just decided to ignore that fact and enjoy the night instead.
“This place is…”
“Yeah,” Myla smiled at me. “A dream. I remember my first time coming to Dreams Garden. I couldn’t stop pinching myself.”
As we walked I looked around and felt somewhat inspired. And just the tiniest bit of light managed to penetrate that shadow caused by the dark cloud that’s lingered over my head for so long.
She grabbed my hand, “dance with me.”
I hadn’t danced in years, but I would’ve been a fool to tell her no, though. So I didn’t. And as we danced I noticed Wilson at the massive indoor pool. Hanging around a crowd in which he was at the center. And for the first time in a long time I felt really happy. I felt content in not knowing what would happen next. But eager to enjoy every second of it all.
After a few songs we finally took a seat at couple of wooden chairs that looked like they were carved by gods.
And as we talked I knew in my heart that I wanted her. Which was such a weird feeling because I hadn’t wanted anything in such a long time.
“Come on,” she says as she yanked me from my chair. We walked all the way to the back of the room and she pulled back vines that revealed a secret set of stairs.
After climbing our way to the top, we briefly looked down at all the people below us. The space was massive. Easily big enough to fit 500 people comfortably.
She then grabbed my hand and we walked through a door that took us outside. And it was there that I saw the beautiful city lights. And I couldn’t help but ask, “why did you two bring me here? Why are you guys so nice to me?”
She laughed, “I had no idea being nice was a bad thing.”
“That’s not what I me–”
“We both know what it feels like to feel low. To want to give up. To have that voice telling us to abandon this world.” She stared at me. Her voice soft. “For him, he’s the son of some rich devil that cared more about his business than his family. Someone hated by almost everyone. Someone he rebelled against for the longest. He never even felt love before. And that’s what led him to start drinking before age 12. But at some point his father died unexpectedly. And though that man was a horrible person, he was all Wilson had. So he had to figure things out by himself. Luckily, his father left him his fortune. And with it a note that possibly changed who he would’ve became.”
“What did it say?”
“Don’t end up like me. And don’t let money blind you from real happiness. I’m sorry I wasn’t the father you deserved. I love you Wil. And I’ll forver be watching you.”
“Wow.” It was all I could say in that moment.
“Yeah. And that’s why he vowed to never let money make him a monster. He just wants to make a positive change in the lives of others. So that they too may find just a little bit of light.”
“And you?”
“Well my story is much simpler.” She looked away from me, “my twin sister and parents died in a car crash. One that I believed I caused for the longest. A thought that drowned me so many times.”
“I’m sorr–”
“Don’t be. Though, my past is sad I still yearn for a happier future. And though I can’t see it. I’m hopeful it’s something great. Because I know that I have control over my life now. And I still carry their love in my heart. And just like Wilsons dad, my family is still watching me.”
I stared over the rail and looked at the city with all its lights glaring. “I’m glad I met you. Both of you. ”
And in that moment the music drifted out of the club like a vibrating pulse. I could feel it in my bones. The night was alive with possibility. I could even imagine myself as the fearless boy I once was.
At least that’s what I thought in that moment.
But looking back. That vibrating pulse I felt so deeply within me. It wasn’t the music of the club.
It was the sound of my heart beating again for the first time.
