Chapter Eleven | Pandora

Atonement

The moon drifts ever so slowly as the sun beams on arrival, welcoming the well-rested souls of the east. In the east, cool light bounces off red clay homes, and visiting animals wander through and feed on what has been laid about. From home to home and across the streets, the discreet creatures hop between the gardens, enjoying the benefits of one, moving on to the next, falling oblivious of what they left behind. The people inhale and exhale in unison; they wake together from restful night, ready for the day to begin once more. The land is but a whisper of tranquility, the sky a vast space of understanding, open interpretation, and the scent of forests eases the minds of all.

The buildings are all, essentially, the same here. They call their home a village, bustling with emptiness. Not empty of life, rather empty of purpose or meaning, leaving behind only thoughtless joy in existence. The systems of the land lack the needless complexity so many civilizations unknown had demanded, desired. There were those who farmed and supplied the food, those who cleaned the public gardens, those who prepared the children for apprenticeships, those who enforced what little laws were broken, and, with all these varying occupations, none overpower or out-benefit the other; none came with a cost. All are equal of status and living, sharing a communal state of mind;

Walking up at the sunlight grazing against his face, Seán turns over in his bed, cracking his eyes open to see his wife, Ten, smiling in her sleep and having a good dream. He smiles too, only for a second wondering what they are going to do for his birthday. As if summoned by the thought itself, the door to their bedroom burst open letting in three little toddlers holding a case with two pistols in it and medals behind them, a box of gummy bears, and a card. They jump on the bed and squeeze themselves in between the couple. "Happy birthday daddy!" They scream, waking Ten up as she jolts to a sit-up position. Her bedhead is adorable, Seán thought to himself. He takes the gummy bears, opens the box and eats one, offering some to the girls and Ten. Putting the box to the side on the dresser, he takes the case and looks into the reflective glass. That devilish smile and good looks return the look. "I love it.", he says. "Now the card!" The girls demand of him, taking the case from his hands and replacing it with the card. It was funny looking as everything was slightly off on the image. The clouds were rocks and the rocks were clouds, the grass was blue and looked like an ocean, and the sun was a sunflower. He opened the card to a cassette.

Taking the cassette, he puts it into a player and listens the the song. The childish vibe of his daughters voices combined with the angelic voice of his wife comes out from the speakers.

You are my Seánshine

My only Seánshine

You make me happy

When sky's are gray

You'll never know, dear

How much I love you

Please don't take my Seánshine away

The other night, dear

As I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms

When I awoke, dear

I was mistaken