Spinning around so fast everything is a blur, face against the glass of the phone booth that was plucked off the ground like a bit on a drill. The sensation of gravity pulling on her stomach combines with the spinning was nauseating and disorienting. As the spinning started to slow, her mind was still spinning at full speed. Perhaps she was rapidly shaking her face side to side, but the clouds in front of her were so pretty, mustering all her self control she forced her focus on the clouds. The sun was setting which cast an orange pink hue on the cottony hills of clouds outstretched in front of her.

Those bastards. They thought I would die after they left me on this icy beach. But I’m a survivor. I made this shelter out of animal hides and sticks. I made this axe out of rocks and animal bones. I will escape. - Germany 1942, the last page of a Jewish captives journal, as he was put in a experimental frozen dome.

Floyd grasped Rylee’s glove tightly and tears slowly flowed down his cheek. She was his beauty, his life, his love. He didn’t think their love was so fragile, he didn’t think one wrong word could end it all. But here he is, curled up on his bed, his bright, long, vibrant red hair strung out everywhere. “Mr. Floyd, the hot tub has been prepared.” Called a voice from outside Floyd’s large hotel room. Floyd’s voice trembled as he spoke, “y-yes, s-sir.” Floyd slowly picked himself up and opened up the door. Very few other people were vacationing here at Purple Mountain Hotel, which was a mystery to Floyd, because it was so charming and beautiful. Floyd slinked into the hot tub and relaxed, but suddenly, he cried.

“Are you okay?” Asked a petite girl with black hair tied in buns and deep brown eyes. Floyd blinked, “I-I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” The girl asked, laying her hand on his shoulder. Floyd rolled his shoulders, “I m-mean…” The girl half smiled, “I heard about Rylee.” Floyd’s eyes widened, “how?!” The girl chuckled, “you both are super celebs, and a super couple. Didn’t you think about that?”

The girl’s eyes sparkled when she laughed, and Floyd couldn’t help but feel like he was melting. “What is your name?” He sniffed. The girl looked down at her shoes and smiled, “I’m Kora.” Floyd opened his mouth to say his, when she said, “I already know yours, silly.” Floyd nodded and gave a weak chuckle, he could feel a small fire of happiness in his heart. “So, what brings you here to Purple Mountain Hotel?” Floyd asked Kora. Kora laughed even harder, “oh, I am no quest, I’m the owner.” Floyd froze, “w-what?” Kora grinned mischievously, “yep.” Floyd began to get out of the hot tub, and grabbed a towel. “Well, I should go!” He called as he ran back to his room.

‘Floyd, you are so stupid! I can’t believe you actually liked her for a minute! She is the owner of the hotel!’ Floyd told himself, looking in the mirror. He put on a vibrant red jacket, jeans, and a sweater underneath the jacket, opened up his door, and left. He saw the mountains in the distance and decided that is where he should go. The whole time though, he could only think of Kora. He had completely forgotten about Rylee, and his mind was filled with pictures of Kora. Her silky black hair. Her dimples when she smiled. Her eyes and their constant sparkle.

“She is so, beautiful.” He muttered to himself once he got to the top of the smallest mountain. He looked over the horizon. The beautiful pastel hotel, the crystal clear water, the… “Kora?!” Floyd exclaimed when he felt a small hand on his shoulder. “You bet.” She said, her dimples showing. She slightly laid her head on Floyd’s shoulder as they sat together. “Isn’t it—“ “Beautiful? Yes, you are.” Floyd said, embracing Kora.

(The End! ❤️ I am thinking about making more Floyd and Kora stories, leave your thoughts in the comments!)

A moment of peace, alone in my hotel. I take in the view of the Everlilac trees and purple sands that surround me. I rest on an inflatable chair as I look out and question whether or not to go out on the water later. But before I can come to a decision I fall asleep. This is the most relaxed I’ve been in months.

A loud whirring sound wakes me up and I look ahead. The screen is black and reads ‘time limit exceeded’ and I can’t believe it! I slept through my hour-long virtual vacation!

When the man with the briefcase approached me and asked me if I would like to be swept away to a paradise of wonders, I of course thought he was absolutely nuts. Something in me was screaming for a change that day, some vastly different from my everyday mundane routine, so I said yes. Flash forward a week later and I can’t manage to leave.

 There’s something special about this place. I’m surrounded by waters so clear I can see straight through to the bottom. A whimsical assortment of sea creatures unlike any I have ever seen swim merrily through the water. The trees spread beautifully along the shoreline, leaving a scent I can only describe as comfort and familiarity in my nose. I often take the jet ski out to explore the never ending waters, letting every ounce of their water soak through to my pores. I am blissfully aware of the serenity my paradise holds as I lounge comfortably in peculiar shaped teal chairs.

 I would have never known such amity if it were not for the peculiar encounter with the strange man with the briefcase.

I look around, and all I can see is paradise in front of me Is it real what beauty I see how I just want to run and play under the sun rises, feeling the cold sand under my feet, hearing the birds, whistle and tweet  Isn’t it quiet just like peace Mountains around, but no one to be seen, just the way I like it it’s just paradise for me!

Finally after two moons I saved enough money to go to lavender springs. You might think, ‘goodness you worked for two moons straight’ and I would say ‘yes, but I wanted to’ and it definitely paid off. I stepped onto the platform of the space port and caught the ship to Astarera. I had been on over planet flights but never off world before and the thought was very exciting. I couldn’t believe my dreams were coming true. Hard work really does pay off. I sat down in my seat and watched the burning lights through the window as the ship passed through the ozone and into the depths of space. The cosmos shot past with flashes of rainbow colour. The people sitting next me, as well travelled business types, were uninterested. We arrived on Astarera and I stepped off to an amethyst world. This was in the colour solar system and was the purple planet. It was my dream to visit all of them but for now one would do. Sitting on the emerald sofas and gazing at the landscape I was so glad I had made this decision.

Postcard blue skies, lavender mountains embracing a mirror glass lake, the shore curved languid, lazy, and inviting. Rosie looked from the brochure in her hand then back at the view before her.

Sparse hard tack clay punctuated by spiky scrub pine stretched before her. To call the water a lake was a gift. The baby shit body of water was clearly an industrial runoff pool. The carcass of an abandoned factory stood stark against the jagged, steel gray mountains. In her yoga tights and peach teeshirt clutching her backpack tight to her chest, Rosie swallowed hard.

On the Camp Lion’s Den brochure two modern Adirondack chairs lounged on a deck. Desperation rising in the back of throat, Rosie searched the landscape. There were the three boys about her age climbing from the SUV and another girl, a little older, standing besides her weeping silently. Soon the “camp counselors” Seth, Chet, and Summer were screaming the rules for this five day hike. No whining, no talking, no breaks, and no excuses were the only words Rosie remembered over the drumming of her heart.

The teens scrambled for the heavy jugs of water they would carry for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Things had been rocky at home. She wanted to have a little fun. Then the whole thing with Marcus tainted everything. Rosie’s parents had promised her the camp would be hard but worth it. They promised this experience would leave her stronger. They promised there would zip lines and a hot tub.

“Wait where’s the food?” The blonde haired boy asked.

Chet answered him with an open handed slap across the mouth. A spray of blood landed on Rosie’s cheek. Suddenly they were jogging through the woods to their camp site. During the endless run, Rosie stumbled rolling her ankle. The camp brochure fell to the uneven ground. The hot pink jet ski on the brochure cover mocked her. Furtively the older girl grabbed Rosie before she fell as well. Rosie saw the angry pink scars on the other girl’s arms. The older girl’s eyes pleaded with Rosie not to cry out. Together hand in hand they ran into woods.

My eyes close. When they open I’m back there. My book is on the table where I left it the night before, my fluffy violet blanket neatly covering the lounge chair on the deck, the crystal lake water lapping at the lilac sand on the beach.

My legs are tucked comfortably close to my body, hidden under the warm quilt. It’s not hot but it isn’t cold.

Under the blanket, the crisp breeze doesn’t touch me. It wafts gently through my hair, soft and calming. Its sweet whistle hums past my ears, more delicate than birdsong.

My hair floats, supported by the breeze, it’s platinum waves shining mauve in the periwinkle light of the setting sun.

I curl up under the blanket, book in my lap watching the lavender sky.

Here, I don’t have to worry about rent, about work, about life. I can drift away dreaming of a cloudless sky. The thought of reports and deadlines can’t reach me here, can’t find me in the haze.

Here, I don’t have to worry about anyone, about anything. I can just dream my self away.

I feel the walls of lilac fog building up around me. I see the sunlight wane. I breath it in, the isolation. It’s refreshing, it’s calm. I close my eyes, dreaming of violet days and indigo nights.

At some point, I will have to wake up. But that doesn’t have to be soon, doesn’t have to be now. Because when the fog comes creeping in, I never want to leave. I just want to stay forever. Forever in that lavender haze.

I should be happy. I should. I don’t understand why but I can’t. Truly. Vacation has always been hard on me. Resting. Doing nothing. Thinking.

Yes, that might be it. I don’t like to think. Because thinking links to remembering. And memories are painful.

So, no. I won’t enjoy my holidays. I won’t. I can’t. I’ll try to work, or do anything else. I’ll bust myself the best I can. Because this is a place she would have enjoyed. And that, I can’t think about.