Within My Mind?!

We were the last two remaining. The past nine days had tested us beyond what words could capture. We had begun as a group of seven people - travelling through the deadliest forest known to man. Its reputation was well-earned. We encountered mud that would stick to our boots as a second skin  and swamps that would engulf us, leaving only our nostrils above the surface, gasping for air. Every time we emerged from these death traps, we were forced to confront every choice that had led us to this hell on Earth and to question whether any mission was worth this merciless torment. How exactly did we end up here? Multiple texts spoke of a potion crafted by an ancient civilization that could cure all diseases. It sounded promising, but there was no easy way to get it. Many teams had already tried and failed. We were told that over 500 people - skilled hunters and collectors, even their animals—had died trying to reach the Ruins of Malley. I suspect we were told a reduced reasonable number ...

It was an evening drenched in misery. Soulful music lingered in the background and amplified the emptiness. Will there be a better moment than this to pen down the weight of today? I doubt it. I know these lines seem heavy, but I'm helpless to make them lighter. Let us start with the music.  " Years May Go By " by Rickie Lee Jones began to play, and instantly, I was transported to the lacrosse field, where Dr. Gregory House was standing, wishing he could play and hoping he could walk without a cane. Last night, a vicious storm tore through the sky. The entire neighbourhood plunged into darkness as the power vanished. In my apartment, water seeped through the ceiling like a slow, relentless drip of despair. I had to unplug everything—refrigerator, TV, whatever else might be saved from the damp. The air was humid, with no breeze and no relief. I could hear people gathering outside, their voices faint but constant. I barely slept. And I needed to, desperately. I had to be at...

I was walking down a steep and heavily winding road. One has to be extremely cautious to avoid any misfortune. Unfortunately, I was not, and a vehicle was speeding down from behind at around 60 miles per hour. I realized it was too late to identify and move to a secure spot. So, I jumped out of the road only to land on the edge. Unfortunately, I slipped, but I could cling to the rocky edge. I didn’t know how long I could hold before my fingers, arm, or willpower gave up. I started wondering if there was a road at some depth below me and gave a quick glance downward. Yes, it was one of the worst ideas, and no, the road was not below me; instead, it continued in the opposite direction. So, if I would stop clinging, the most likely outcome would be death. The next thought was to try and push myself up, but I couldn’t achieve that. I started screaming at the top of my voice. Several cars passed, but no one stopped; I believe no one heard. Suddenly, I could hear footsteps coming towards me....

"Why are we here?" asked  Mr. Robert . "I got a wire  this morning. It precisely mentioned this location and that we would find additional information about  the Disappearance of Mr. Harry, " replied Detective Rhode . "If this is a false wire, then I would ensure…"    "I won't disappoint you," said a voice. Detective Rhode was cut short before he could complete his sentence. They had just entered the designated room. A distinctive figure was seated in the chair, but Detective Rhode could not see his face. "Who am I speaking to? What light can you shed upon the case?" asked the detective. "Take a seat, sir. And please do not interrupt when I'm speaking." Detective Rhode took a seat, and Mr. Robert stood near him. The guy in the chair began the tale. " Mr. Harry was running when he saw a guy jumping over the wall and approaching him from behind . From his behaviour, it could be concluded that Mr. Harry had identifie...

"Are we done then?" she dreaded asking, knowing that, given the situation and everything that had happened recently, there was an actual probability that the answer would be affirmative. Like most things, it started from something naive and escalated to something big. A planned weekend trip to Les Avants is precisely what both needed to escape life, particularly the work-related events over the past week. The itinerary was to arrive in Montreux in the morning, take the Golden Pass Panoramic train, do a few hikes and return in the evening - it couldn't be more straightforward. Tickets were bought the night before, and the bags were packed with snacks, two large bottles of water, and, of course, the camera. "My goodness, it is half past nine!" she exclaimed when she woke up. She observed that he had already been awake for quite some time since breakfast was in the kitchen, and he was not in the house. He had said several times before that he would leave if she de...

I was sitting in a cafe, alone but surrounded by people. I ordered myself a Cappuccino. Cafes are a great place to get done with your work. You see so many people working, and you either get motivated or feel guilty that you are getting behind, and you put in more effort. Either way, you can get your work done. It so happened that I was stuck on a problem - something that had been bugging me for the past week. I rarely go to a cafe; however, I dragged myself to one with the above-win situation in mind. Nevertheless, as has been the case in the last week, I couldn't get past the problem. The waiter brought my order. I took a sip from the cup and the opportunity to look around. So many people; engrossed in something or the other. From the person making the coffee to people building a new product. From writers deep in their thoughts to people selling their products. It seemed everyone was busy in their own world. Then..., it suddenly hit me how many of them are taking a pause to think...