When Two Oceans Collide PV

Backdated to 05/14/2022

Mikael blinked slowly as he stared at the water stains that marred the old peeling wallpaper. Once bright blue had since faded away into something unrecognizable. The boy cleared his throat running his hand across the warping paper. His hand caught and pushed against the bubbled-up paper. In truth, it was not too bad. Compared to the rest of the house his room was still in good standing. If he closed his eyes he wondered if he could go back. To the bright blue walls and the warm light that would filter in through the windows during the summer. A cool breeze blasted through the window. Even though it was tightly shut it still seemed to let in the wind. Mikael frowned walking over to his closet. Pulling out a muted-colored sweater and pulling it over his long-sleeved turtle neck. Everything felt muted and that was the problem. The walls, the floors, him. It felt suffocating.

The boy sat down on his bed with a neutral facial expression. He wondered what his room would have been like if he was in his old room. Mikael slowly closed his eyes before falling backward onto the bed. He remembered only a few glimpses here and there. Bright blue walls and small block toys, and that smell that cannot be described in words. It seemed so close, but still so far away. As if it were on the tip of his tongue. The boy's eyes fluttered slightly as the image grew closer and closer. A part of him felt like he was falling, but another part of him felt like he was soaring. Mikael wondered how this was how his Mother had felt rising as high as she fell. It was a thrilling sensation something that felt far too real and encompassing. As if something was simply whisking him away.

Mikael was unsure of how long he lay there. He was far too comfortable to feel like moving, and so he didn't. It wasn't until the warmth of the sun graced his face that he moved to open his eyes. Mikael's brows furrowed deeply as he moved to sit up. It made little sense for there to be sunlight at this hour. Had he fallen asleep through the night? Though, what he saw made little to no sense to him. Small block toys sat upon an oval carpet in front of him. Each block was a varying shape and color. Bright blue walls surrounded him and the smell of fresh paint reached his nose. He forgot he had asked for a blue bedroom for his birthday. Mikael moved to the blocks picking them up one by one as he sat upon the rough texture of the carpet. It seemed all too real, but he could not shake the feeling of something wrong.

Muted notes came from the closet door of his bedroom. Voices that appeared close, but too far away to clearly make out. A frown crossed his features as he stood up from his position on the carpet. So distracted by the muted tones to realize he was still holding on to one of the blocks. Mikael walked slowly towards the door. Rising anxiety followed with each step he took towards the door. The muted voices grew louder but not a hair clearer. Finally standing in front of his closet the tones were loud enough that he thought he should be able to see someone talking through the slats in the door. Though, all he could see was an impenetrable darkness. Mikael gripped the small doorknob on the door swinging the door open.

Mikael blinked slowly as his eyes adjusted to the light. It felt as if he were watching the scene from a distance. Standing in the entryway to the dining room like he did. The room was nowhere near packed, but clearly, more than there usually was as there were not nearly enough chairs. An oppressive mood permeated the room. Suffocating and dark. The voices continued in their warbling and unreadable tone. As if he did not exist to the figures amongst the room. As if he was unwelcome. Mikael swallowed thickly wishing to retreat to safety of his room. This room was far too harsh and cold. Chilling and...wet. The boy's gaze drifted down to see water. Mirky water clung around his ankles. It reminded him too much of the ocean. Dragging him back down. He didn't want to go back down. Shocked Mikael dropped the small wooden block into the water.

'splash'

It did not occur to him right away why a sense of unease washed over him. Not a second later he realized. The talking had stopped. Slowly, Mikael raised his gaze towards the figures that were in front of him and found himself rooted to the spot as he saw their faceless faces staring back at him. Unable to move and unable to speak, all he could do was stare right back. The water began to slowly continue its journey towards the ceiling. Slowly rising about his knees, stomach, and neck. Though, as the water began to rise up past his mouth the figures continued their discussion. As muted and useless as it was. Could they not see the water? They could see him, and yet they made no move to help him as the water began to rush past his head. Mikael wanted to scream wanted to swim to the surface, but he found himself rooted to the spot. Even as his vision darkened.

Mikael sat up abruptly his eyes wide. A cold sweat had broken across his forehead and the nape of his neck, and his pulse seemed a little too quick. He was back in his room, well his current room. The only difference was the sky outside had gone from the pink and orange hues of the setting sun into a dark and cold abyss. Mikael frowned rubbing at the bridge of his nose. A part of him wanted to dwell on how real it had felt. It had not felt like a dream. So real he could practically still taste the smell of the fresh paint, and how the wooden block had felt against his childlike hands. Maybe that was the problem it was all becoming too real. The ocean had felt real, but it wasn't. This wasn't like the ocean but how much different could it be. Could this drag him down too? Mikael stood up a bit disoriented before heading out of his room. He needed some fresh air.

Finished