At the edge of a sleepy village stood a brittle old blue door, set into a crumbling stone wall covered slightly by a breathtaking purple wisteria tree.
The origin of the blue door was a complete mystery to the people of this village. No one knew who had built it. There was no house behind it, only the deteriorating wall, the purple wisteria, and the blue door that had been locked for as long as anyone could remember. Everyone except young Mara had given up on trying to open the door. She had always felt a strong, unexplainable pull towards it.
One hot summer afternoon, on her way home from school, Mara noticed something she’d never noticed before scratched into the wall beside the door. Three tiny drawings stared up at her: a dragon, a crown, and a ship.
Suddenly, Mara felt a pull so powerful she instantly reached for the rusted handle.
To Mara’s surprise, the door opened. Beyond it was not another room, but an endless silver forest beneath two moons. Gorgeous blue fireflies drifted between the sparkling silver trees, and rivers flowed upward into the stars. In the distance stood a castle made of the most beautiful crystals Mara had ever seen, its towers glowing like lanterns.
A small fox wearing a red cloak stepped into view from the cover of the shadows.
“You are late,” it said.
Mara blinked in confusion.
“Late for what?” she asked the fox.
“The choosing”, the fox responded, and with a quick flick of its head, three paths materialised in front of her.
The first led toward the castle. The image of a golden crown placed upon a plush red cushion that sat almost patiently on a throne entered her mind. The image quickly disappeared almost as fast as it came.
She turned her head and looked over at the second path, which disappeared into a disturbingly dark forest, where something formidable lurked between the trees. Mara could feel the hot breath of the monster wrap around her body.
Mara swiftly averted her gaze and turned her head once more to see where the third and final path wound its way towards a glistening, shining blue sea, where the largest ship she had ever seen floated calmly against the swaying waves. Its pearlescent white sails flapped briskly against the wind. The ship was so enormous that Mara had to strain her neck backwards to get the full view of the stunning ship.
“Which one is the right path?” Mara asked the little fox.
The fox tilted its head to the side and gazed up at her in slight wonder.
“There is no right path. Only the one you are brave enough to take.”
Mara looked back at the open blue door.
Home was behind her. But her sheer curiosity soon won the battle in her head as she stepped forward towards this new world. As Mara slowly closed the door behind her, the purple wisteria began to glow. Mara marched on towards this new, enchanting realm filled with determination and didn’t once look back towards that blue door behind her, because honestly? What did she really have to lose.
~ a story by Zoe Leetch, age 14.