MYSAFEHAVEN

By Theo Di Florio '29

Up in the sky my island floats and the clouds swirl around me. The bright green grass and my luscious willow tree glisten under the bright shining moon. There I sit listening to music. My head floating away in all of its thoughts. There are mountains around me covered in snow but where I sit it’s warm and cuddly. My skateboard leans against the ramp in the skatepark The skatepark is attached to a beach where the waves could swallow the world in one fell swoop

My cars rumble near the track my uncle Dennis built. He used to laugh with me and tell me about sports all the years that I visited him. A room stands near the mountains with a drum set inside… uncle Dennis's drum set. My thoughts drift away and the music gets louder but softer at the same time. My eyes flutter shut and the light disappears I can sense that I'm traveling Traveling to somewhere new “Hello? Is anyone there? Anyone?”

Chapter

I scurry by him. He reminds me of myself, but not only by looks. The way his hair flops when he walks and his worried face when he calls for someone It all seems so familiar

Chapter

3 - Me

I see something scurry by. It’s a dark figure. I see his floppy hair. It looks like mine. “Hello?” I still don't get an answer. I’m cold and scared and I don't know what to do. Until I see it scurry by again. The dark figure. It’s like a shadow. I feel around checking if there is something around me I can grab onto to defend myself from whatever that creature is My head spins with worry and my shirt feels damp with sweat against my back I see him scurry once more before he comes out of the dark and shows his face

Chapter 4 - Shadow

I watch as he flails his arms as if he’s looking for something. I run by him again this time to try to get a better look at his face My heart pounds as I realize I have to confront him to make sure my theory is correct I slowly drag my feet while walking up to him I walk and eventually realize that he is me

Chapter 5 - Me

My eyes widened at the sight of his face (or should I say mine). I can’t tell if this is real or if it’s a dream. His characteristics are the exact same as mine The way his hair flops down, his eyes are shaped thin and snake like just like mine But all of these features are shadows he is a shadow My shadow

Chapter 6 - Shadow

I look deeply into his eyes as he analyzes me just like I am to him. We are identical but he has color on his body, his skin is olive and his dark navy blue cargo pants are colored his baggy green hoodie and his dark blue eyes are a splash to my colorless chamber He has sharp white gleaming teeth (am I his shadow or is he mine, my colorful shadow?)

Chapter

7 - Me

I try to grasp the concept of me seeing my own shadow as an actual alternate being, but I can't. “Hi” I say, my heart racing “Hi” he says just like I do I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out My back is cold from the dried sweat I release a big breath and as I do so my shoulders drop with relief. “So where am I?” I ask, trying to break the tension.

Chapter

8 - Shadow

“You’re in the chamber of shadows ” I say trying not to make things more terrifying than they probably are for him “The what?” he says confused I try to comfort him by reassuring that there is nothing to be afraid of, but he’s freaking out.

Chapter

9 - Me

“What do you mean the chamber of shadows! That’s a lie you are a lie!” this isn’t real I need to get out of here!” I squeeze my fists as tight as I can with anger until I do it My fist hits his cheek with a thud but he isn’t the only one who falls to the ground. I feel the same blow on my cheek that I gave him. Then I realize that your shadow is attached to you.

Chapter

10 - Shadow

I sit up dazed with the fact that he did that to me I look over where I see him running towards me He has a bloody nose but he isn’t paying attention to it. I sit there ready for the next blow to come until I realize he isn’t running to hit me again but to help me up. “Here” he says whilst picking me up. He continually apologizes and is trying to tell me that he didn’t know what came over him to do that.

Chapter

11- Me

For hours we talk, trying to understand how this works. If I'm his shadow or if he’s mine. But eventually we fall asleep.

I wake up startled and sit up immediately. I don’t feel well and my head is spinning but I don’t wake him

“I need to get out of here” I tell myself To