Beyond Emotional Illusion || Entry for Dreem-WOTW

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When Helen was young, her home, offered sanctuary to her—the big house and garden behind the high walls with its surrounding fields and orchards and forest; its pool and tennis court and billiard room, its stables, kennels, and a small zoo. She remembers how, on Sundays when she was younger than sixteen, she would ride her pony across the river to the village where her mother's sister lived, and then spend the day there with her cousins. The two girls were close enough in age to be almost twins and they enjoyed each other's company.

She would get up early and dress for church, followed by Sunday breakfast at the dining table. Then she would go out to help Aunt Elizabeth with the washing while she told stories about her own childhood. Helen loved these times as much as any girl could love being doted on by an older woman who made her feel like a little princess. Sometimes, after dinner, Helen would sit down with her cousin and listen to her read aloud from some book of poetry. They would talk late into the evening until the children were sent off to bed.

On summer evenings, the two girls would often walk the mile or so to the village together, stopping once or twice along the way to buy sweets from a shop or take their shoes to the cobbler.

At first, Helen found the village boring but within a few weeks, she came to appreciate the quietness and peace, and tranquillity of the place. She particularly liked the old church near the center of the village, which reminded her of St Paul's Cathedral in London. It looked like a very tall, slender, white, stone tower. There were no pews inside—only simple benches.

The people who lived in the village were mostly farmers and farm workers; some of them owned smallholdings around the edge of the village. One man owned a small estate outside the town which he rented out to tenants.

The men worked long hours in the fields and, if possible, preferred to sleep on the ground rather than in a bed.

Aunt Elizabeth was well respected because she knew everyone and everything that happened in the village. Everybody went to her for advice and guidance; she was kind, considerate, generous, and helpful. But not everybody liked her. Some said she was too interfering and meddlesome. Others disliked her because she was wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. And others simply thought she was a snob.

One day, when Helen was about nine years old, Aunt Elizabeth took her to a new doctor in the neighboring town. Aunt Elizabeth was worried about Helen's health and most times she is caught up strangely distant — As she dwells in the thoughts of losing Helen.

Helen had been complaining of stomach pains and bad headaches for months. The doctor prescribed a variety of medications to treat Helen's condition. But she also advised that Helen should be kept away from all forms of stress and that her diet must be strictly regulated. He recommended that she should live a secluded life without any worry or concern. This meant avoiding the company of friends, relatives, and neighbors.

"I'm sorry to say this," he told Helen, "but I think you are suffering from the effects of excessive emotional turmoil."

"I am?" Helen asked.

He nodded. "You're too young to understand the meaning of what I'm saying, but your body is trying to tell you that you need to calm down and stop worrying so much."

Helen sensed the seriousness of his warning. As much as she can remember she's often worried over nothing. Her only emotional crime would be the various times she drifts off in thoughts as she savors the illusion of being Aunt Elizabeth's favorite niece.

"Is that why my head hurts so much?" she asked.

He smiled, touched her forehead gently, and replied, "I believe so."

"But...I don't want to be sick!"

The doctor shook his head sadly. "It seems you're going to have to learn to be patient and accept things as they happen. You can't change anything, child. Let yourself become used to the idea that life isn't always fair and you might not always get what you want."

His eyes twinkled and he said conclusively. "Perhaps we will see each other again one day, Helen. If you promise to take care of yourself, I'll make sure you're given the best medical treatment and plenty of advice."

Helen promised and left the clinic with her aunt feeling sad and alone. But she was willing to follow the doctor's advice to be sound enough to spend time with all the people she loved.

THE END

This is my entry for the final DREEM-WOTW post for the year by @samsmith1971. A challenge for dreemers to use a combination of at least 3 prompts from the previous prompts used in the year! The prompts are : Sanctuary, distance, illusion blank and time. I made use of Sanctuary, distance and illusion

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!!!