The Lost Boy🔊

Once upon a time in a little town named 'Gleaming Dew', there lived an uncanny boy. His name was Ben and he had unique green eyes that represented the symbol of the prosperity that people saw in him. This town was special too, as its houses were built directly on the surface of a lake. The still water mirrored the beautiful topology and vibrant colors of the houses and looked magnificent when the first light of the dawn kissed it.

Ben was orphaned at a young age and inherited an old boat from his mother with a caution that it was not an ordinary one. Over years, Ben grew fond of the boat and spent most of his time on it, so much that people started recognizing him as 'The Boy on the Boat'. Ben had his mother's eyes and a heart bubbling with curiosity. This curiosity led him one day to unravel the secrets his mother hinted about the boat.

On the night of gleaming moon he rowed further than ever before, beyond the town into the wilderness of the lake. The water became cooler, the moonlight fainter, and the noises of the world disappeared as he ventured into the unknown. Suddenly, the boat jerked, leading to his fall. As he surfaced back, he saw an ethereal light from beneath. To his astonishment, he found that his boat could now submerge like a submarine.

Cautiously, he decided to plunge his boat below the surface. As the boat submerged, Ben felt his heart pounding. However, the sight that greeted him took away his breath more than the anticipation did. Beneath the town was a parallel world, mirroring every physical aspect of his town except for the vibrance. This world radiated spectral colors he had never seen before.

The houses were built upside down, or maybe right side up, Ben couldn’t quite figure. Before him was an enchanting world where people were walking on what seemed like the surface of the water. Ethereal creatures swam around, interacting with people, some were bright like a star while others were filled with darkness. He was a mere visitor in this extraordinary world, completely unnoticed.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months but Ben didn't feel the need to return. The boy on the boat was lost in the spectral colors of the world and the conversations with its people, learning about their existence and acknowledging their wisdom. The experience was a life discovery for Ben, it unveiled the secrets of his mother’s boat and introduced him to a world where everything was the same, yet entirely different.

However, soon Ben felt a longing for the familiarity of his former world. He missed his friends, his town, the small community gatherings, and the gentle touch of his own world. His heart yearned for his original home, a place where he was known and had an identity.

So, Ben decided to return. He bid his farewell, promising to preserve their secret. The spectral people thanked him for his respect towards their world. As the boat ascended, the spectral colors began to fade, the water started to warm, and the noises of the real world slowly filled in.

When Ben returned, nobody recognized him as the boy on the boat. His strange disappearance for months had earned him the title of 'The Lost Boy'. He looked at them knowingly, aware of a world they had no clue about. Hence onwards, Ben kept the secret close, not letting the outside world tarnish the purity of the spectral world, continuing his life as 'The Lost Boy who Found Himself'.