Where I Belong

This story is fictional, based on my experiences with my mp3 player.
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Ever since i can remember,my world has been like that.

I have music in my ears in my isolated cubicle, doing my own thing in darkness. Occupying myself by staring at the darkness, as if eternity were written there. Loud music ringing in my ears, repeatedly. Music is my life. Without the music, i cease to exist. Or so I've always known. I'm not sure about that, though.

You must be wondering who told me. Well I'm not that sure either. Perhaps the music pounds into me that. Maybe the blackness of my cubicles say so. But i think i have known that since i can remember. A primitive instinct, most probably.

Sometimes i wonder what is outside my cubicle. But most of all i am terrified of what goes beyond these four walls. On certain days-if you could have day in a world with no light- i think of how i got the knowledge of the word "light" or even "day"in the first place.

One day i hear something. I am puzzled at it. After all, my ears have only heard the music throughout my life. I turn to where the sound is coming from. I see it-a tiny crack in the four walls around me. Light seeps in through the tiny crevice. I listen carefully, trying to drown out the music in my ears for the first time.

Curiosity is aroused within me. I start to let my mind wander as i to question all this that i am doing. I am, of course, surprised. All my life i just listen to the music and I am contented. Now i cannot rest till i find a reason to why i am doing this. Reason. Hmmm.. A new word.

I lean forward and take a peep. For the first time in my life i look out of my small world. I see a great light engulfing the universe of cubicles. I see some people, like me, already out of their cubicles and exploring their new environment. The music is no longer in their ears. But how...?

I look at them with great envy. They have this expression on their faces-i don't know what it is- happiness? Now how do i know that word? I ask myself. I tell myself i must find the answer. And the answer, i reason, lies in the light-that beautiful, white light.

I started to pound on the wall with my bare fists. But the wall wouldn't let me get out to the great light. Tears start to stream down my cheeks. Hot tears. Not that i could see them, i could feel them. Touch? When did i start to feel? My mind was in a turmoil. I didn't even know the word "touch" as well. It seemed forgotten over time, lying in the shadows of my mind.

I wished i could get out. I really did. The sound i first heard was still there-a voice. It was trying to tell me something, but i didn't understand. The music in my ears was just too loud. The voice seemed like it was repeating something. My ears strained to hear the words.

The voice was melodious, marvelous.

It dawned upon me that the unplugging of my music was necessary to break out of my enclosed world. But that was equivalent to pointing a gun at my head and pulling the trigger. I looked at the other people out there, without the music, happy. Their faces told me they were rejoicing, basking in the great warm light, with a purpose.

And then i think about listening to the repetitive music. Pointless. All these while, while trying to occupy the darkness and loneliness of my small cubicle, i must have resorted to doing this for so long it became my life. Covering up for that emptiness inside of me. How foolish of me.

Then i see a small child walking towards my cubicle. I can see her lips moving to mouth a single word.

Come.

And that is enough for me. All my fear gone, i take off the music in my ears. And at that very moment my cubicle crumbles to dust. My entire being is electrified. I immerge refreshed.

At first i think i am hallucinating, as immediately i see not just the light, but things in the light. This is a safe haven, where i know i will be taken care of forever.

And i know in my heart that this is where i belong.