If Esther could only shrink herself, she could fit through the window. She gazed longingly at the blue sky, trees, and grass beyond its too small dimensions. What she wouldn’t give to step into that world.
She’d stopped wondering why this beautiful view greeted her at odd moments. There was no predicting when it would appear; nor did she have warning of its disappearance. Where did such beauty exist? What world did she look out on?
The first time the parallel universe had shown itself, Esther had run out her front door, only to find herself surrounded by burned out buildings, rubble-strewn streets, and the ever-present rifle-toting soldiers patrolling the ghetto. Nothing in her world had changed.
Her only glimpse of a better world—a better possibility—came when somehow, through some miracle, the view from her window changed.
Today, as Esther stared out at clear skies, untainted by the ravages of war, she decided to carve a bigger opening. Either she would escape this endless nightmare, or she wouldn’t. Another hole covered with plastic wasn’t going to make much difference. One way or another she had to know if escape was possible.
When Laura sent me this prompt, she said she wasn’t sure what the picture was saying to her. Did it reflect the world she lived in, or was it a window into a parallel universe? Not hard to see in which direction I took the story.
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Quite a metaphor for appearances and creating a new world. Choosing your viewpoint in how you see beyond yourself. The story is relatable in the current state of affairs, and practical when we feel discouraged by outward appearances.