The road was bright and cheery, yet every man who walked there could almost see the frown behind its smile. It was too welcoming to accept, yet too intriguing to deny. Eli knew that many others had walked the path that lay before him, billions possibly. They had seen the cherry trees, the dirt path, the bright sun glistening above it all, and they had been convinced. And though Eli took the biggest risk stepping towards its smirk, the path was lined with tulips.
The moment he moved, he saw others. They all walked blankly, and their shadows disappeared. He saw that most of them gravitated west, and immediately after realizing, he felt a magnetic pull in their direction. Many of the boys who were slugging west began to sink into the ground, yet their faces lay blank and emotionless. Eli wrestled the pull. He knew that something was waiting below. And though many people thought that this dangerous route was terrible for a boy of his age, Eli knew that the path was lined with tulips.
He breathed a hefty sigh as soon as the magnetic pull vanished. It had been as if the thing below was no longer hungry. There were fewer people on the trail now, and the sky got darker, casting an eerie shadow among the cherry trees, who had lost their playful stance. The people had some life and emotion, but their souls seemed hollowed with age. Maybe it was because of his youth that Eli had lasted this long, but he started to lose a bit of himself with every step. The trail was now a burden, but he didn’t stop, because the path was lined with tulips.
And after what felt like years, he woke up. He wasn’t sleeping, his soul had simply been in the dark. And before his eyes, were thousands, possibly millions, of bright red tulips swaying in the sun. Eli began to smile, for he saw her in the field. And though the path was long, dark, and couldn’t be cheated, it was always lined with tulips.
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    Juma
    Juma(@juma)
    3 years ago

    Hello Mia! It’s so nice to see you on Voice.club. I remember this story very well from ZenGarden.club – it was one of my favorites. I was pleasantly surprised when it popped up on my Discourse list today. I look forward to more stories from you, and hope you’re doing well.

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Hello Mia, I like the line – possibly millions of bright red tulips swaying in the sun. Eli began to smile. That made me smile too, a happy ending for Eli.

    Susan Dawson
    Susan Dawson(@susan-dawson)
    2 years ago

    Lots of stories told here in 350 words, leaving the reader to fill in between the lines, or be satisfied with the mysteries along the way.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    Hello, Mia. I agree with Eric; I also like that line because I also smiled as I read that part of your story. This line also stuck in my mind: “Too welcoming to accept, but too intriguing to refuse”. Can you allow me to use that line on a Facebook post? Well written.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Mia B
    2 years ago

    Thank you so much, Mia.

    Julie Harris
    Julie Harris(@julie-harris)
    2 years ago

    Mia, what a beautifully written, poetic allegory. I’ve read it many times and each time I get inspired anew. I’m so glad you left it up to the reader to interpret the myriad of meanings in this path that all of us travel. It helps to remember that it’s always and forever lined with tulips.

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