End it all.
Kyle was walking about in the forest with the hope of finding something to eat but he found nothing.
"Where are all the fruits here?" Kyle grumbled as he rotated at a spot. He was completely tired and felt like giving up on life.
"I am tired, haven't I tried enough? My mates are at home growing like a proper child but my life has been all about hardship." He wept and sat at the spot he was standing.
He was raised by an old woman who found him as a kid by the roadside. Kyle lost her to illness when he clocked 13 and things were never the same for him.
He worked as a labourer in the king's farm and one day, he was thrown out by one of the Princes who envied his strength and intelligence. Everyone knows the Prince to be evil and Kyle knew that he might not stop at just depriving him of the job so he fled the province.
He was kicked out everywhere he sought help, people called him the child with bad luck because of the illness that befell grandma since she took him in.
"Why are you crying?" A female voice asked Kyle while sobbing.
"I am tired of everything and just want to end it." He replied and thought about who could be talking to him.
He raised his head but saw no one, he was frightened and quickly stood from where he was.
"Don't be frightened Kyle, you can't see me and I am not here to hurt you."
Kyle was shivering already and wished he could disappear from where he was back to the province.
"Please don't hurt me," he pleaded while looking at the direction the voice was coming from.
"Your cry made me uncomfortable and I want to help you end it all as you have wished for," the voice replied.
"I don't want to die, I just need help," Kyle replied and the voice started laughing.
The laughter terrified Kyle more and suddenly a beautiful girl appeared. His brain was pressuring him to run but his heart wanted him to stay.
Kyle slowly walked backwards as the glowing lady with wings descended from the air.
"If you need help, I am ready to offer you one and I would have gone my way if you truly wanted to end it." The lady said to Kyle.
She moved closer to Kyle but he didn't stop moving backwards.
"You don't have to run, I want to help and there are two options for you to choose from."
Kyle stopped moving and she offered him fruits. He couldn't say no and collected them from her.
She led him to the stream where he drank some water after eating the fruit.
"Thank you," Kyle said after filling his belly.
"How did you end up here?" She asked him and Kyle narrated his story to the lady.
"There is a world over there where you don't have to do anything before feeding or doing anything you desire. That's the world I live in, you will be powerful and can take revenge on those who have hurt you." She paused for a moment.
"See that yellow door over there, you just need to cross it and that's all."
Kyle looked at the door from after and turned to the lady.
"What's the other option?" Kyle asked.
"I can give you money but you have to repay with interest in a short time and if you fail, I will take your soul." She replied.
"My soul?" Kyle asked and almost cried again.
"I will leave you for now to think about it." She said to him and disappeared.
Immediately after she left, a small cabin appeared.
"Stay there until you decide, you have just seven days." The voice said again.
Kyle went in there and cried more. The place was comfortable and it had everything he needed. He wished the place could just be his home.
He was there till the deadline when the lady came again.
"I want money and you can take my soul if I fail to repay you." Kyle made his choice known and the lady granted his wish.
He left the forest to settle in a nearby village, he started farming and worked hard to make sure he didn't lose his life.
Kyle could barely spend out of his profit, he lived in his barn and fellow farmers mocked him.
The time for repayment came, Kyle gathered everything he was paying back and was glad to still have enough to live on.
He happily went to the forest and immediately he arrived, the lady appeared.
"You have grown a lot, it's been a while," she said.
Kyle could only laugh and he presented the things he brought.
"I am impressed Kyle, you can keep everything for yourself", she told him and transformed into the old woman who took him in.
He was scared but didn't run. Kyle cried and she comforted him.
"I needed to be sure that you are still Kyle I trained and that's why I tested you. There was nothing behind the door that day and you made the right choice. Everything is yours," she said and as Kyle wanted to hold her, she vanished.
He cried more and went home sad. Kyle continued farming and became a wealthy man.
This is beautiful to read. I didn't see the old woman part coming but glad Kyle was encouraged to work hard enough for a repayment
She was the one who transformed into the young lady, Kyle worked hard to pay back not knowing that everything was for him.
Your story is very imaginative, @lara-bee. Great job with integrating dialogue, action and narrative. You found a really great yellow door image, too. Thank you for sharing your story in The Ink Well, and for reading and commenting on the work of other community members.
Thank you for the comment, I am happy you like it.
I was shocked too because I searched the whole of Pixaby and found nothing 😅
Wow, this is beautiful. Kyle could have lost everything he could have gain from the old woman if he had chosen the easy life.
The pretty lady becoming the old woman shows how much the old woman care about him even after death.
The is no easy way to success, we have to work hard to achieve it in life.
What a beautiful story, very cozy and with a meaningful message. Kyle made the right decision.
I am happy for Kyle, he was well trained and he did not depart from the training the old woman gave him.
I was worried he will take the yellow door option because I am sure he would have grown bored of the routine of just eating and doing nothing.
I'm glad he took the second option although it was the most difficult but he proved himself.
Well done. Good Luck in the contest.
I loved reading your story, it was fantastic and with a great ending. It's good that Kyle knew how to choose what was best for him. I congratulate you, you have a great imagination.
Regards @lara-bee