Snow Globe World

With tears streaming down my face, I violently shook the snow globe, watching the tiny glittery imitation snow whirling around inside it. The delicate flakes danced and twirled, reminiscent of the magical world I had just left behind. In that realm, the snow had a life of its own, falling downward, then upward, and down again, like the globe when flipped upside down, then righted again. The tiny teal and glitter-painted castle in the globe resembled those found in a fish tank—small and contained. But in the magical world, it had transformed into a magnificent full-sized castle, its teal color shimmering with a purple tint, like unicorn paint glistening in the sunlight.

The mage’s words echoed loudly in my mind, as if they were being shouted through a bullhorn: "The magic in the globe lasts only for 24 hours; though every hour will feel like a day in the magical world, you only get one day in the magical snow globe world." The words “24 hours” reverberated within me, a haunting reminder of the fleeting nature of my wish. “Your most desired wish will manifest in the magical world, but before you shake the globe to enter, prepare your heart for its end,” she had warned, her voice tinged with an unsettling glee.

The morning I met the old mage had been a cold, dreary, misty December day. It was the kind of day I longed to spend snuggled under my warm, fuzzy blanket, letting the world pass by my lonely and sad existence. But that was not to be; I had chores to complete, and going to the grocery store was at the top of my dreaded list. It involved facing people and pretending to be a nice, social person, even though my social anxiety screamed like a banshee deep inside my mind.

As I drove past a small, poverty-stricken neighborhood on my way to the local store, I noticed an old woman dressed oddly. Her clothes were a bizarre mix of medieval and futuristic styles, and she walked with a stick for a cane, wielding a beautifully ornate snow globe in her other hand. My curiosity could not be quelled; I had to stop to discover what she was all about.

I pulled over, slowly exited my car, and approached her. Her eyes were strikingly different—one teal, the other purple—both glowing with a slight pink hue. As she stared intently into my eyes, it felt as if she were reading my entire life story. Those eyes had witnessed countless tales, and I sensed her magic was fading with her years. She wanted to ensure that the last of her magic, infused into the snow globe, would be well spent.

“Your story has already been written in the magical snow globe world,” she said, her voice raspy yet melodic. “Your intense yearning for a love that collided with an ill-fated, intervening dimensional tornado writes the reversal story in a magical world where the tornado throws the pieces of its destroyed stories.” Her words sent shivers down my spine, a mix of awe and trepidation.

She handed me the snow globe, her gnarled fingers brushing against mine, sending a spark of energy coursing through me. I shook the globe gently, but instantly, the wind whirled around me, enveloping me in a flurry of snow. It blew so hard and fast that I couldn’t see anything but white.

Suddenly, I found myself standing before the beautiful castle, shimmering like a mermaid’s tail in the sunlight. Its towers reached toward the sky, adorned with glittering spires that sparkled like stars. As I stepped inside, I was greeted by the king—a figure cloaked in a royal purple cape, his large golden crown encrusted with fine jewels gleaming with the same light as his warm and charming smile.

It was Shon, the love of my teenage life, just as I remembered him—young and svelte, built like a bodybuilder. My heart raced at the sight of him, his Leo heart would have loved being a king

“Welcome back,” he said, his voice rich and warm, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace.

Each day in this magical world began with the strange up-and-down snow falling three times before it settled, as if the universe itself celebrated our reunion. Each night, we would sit by the warm, roaring fire, our bodies entwined, lost in ecstatic paradise. Just the thought of those nights sent sparkling tingles through my veins, taking my breath away.

We would talk for hours, sharing dreams and secrets, making each night feel like years. His words were loving and beautiful, reigniting the flame in my heart, and for the first time in forever, I felt like the most beautiful queen in the universe—so different from the real world, where men looked away as if seeing something hideous.

The feelings of my prom night exploded exponentially every day in this magical world, that one perfect night in my real life that could never be equaled or even come close. In this realm, like on my prom night with him, I wasn’t a poverty-stricken girl. I was a queen, surrounded by elegance and magic. The castle sparkled, and love permeated the air, filling every corner with joy.

Twenty-four days and nights of love in word, deed, and feeling passed like a dream. But as in life, all wonders must eventually fade; the magic was nearing its end. I returned to the dreary, misty December day, standing in the same spot where I had met the mage. She was gone, but the snow globe remained in my hand, a bittersweet reminder of what I had experienced.

The reality of my situation crashed down on me like a tidal wave. I could not accept that everything I dreamed of was fading into nothing, knowing I was back in my sad and lonely world again. Tears fell like a waterfall, cascading down my cheeks as I began to shake the snow globe violently, hoping for just one more day, some spark of magic left inside it. Her words echoed in my mind: “24 hours.”

A Panglossians, would say, “Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” But how could I reconcile that wisdom when I felt so utterly hollow? I had tasted the sweetness of love, only to be thrust back into a world devoid of it.

Suddenly, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe the magic of the globe wasn't just in the time I spent in the magical world, but also in the memories I created there. Could love transcend time and space? I held the globe tightly, closed my eyes, and whispered a wish—a wish not for more time, but for the strength to carry the magic within me, to hold Shon’s love in my heart and let it guide me through the darkness of my reality.

I felt a surge of energy, as if the universe itself was responding to my wish. In that moment, I understood that the magic of the globe was not just a fleeting experience; it was a reminder that love, once felt, never truly fades. It becomes a part of us, a guiding light in our loneliest moments.

With renewed determination, I walked away from the spot where the mage had vanished, the snow globe cradled in my arms. I would return to my life, yes, but I would do so with the knowledge that love was still alive within me, waiting to blossom again. The tears that had fallen were now mixed with hope, and I took a deep breath, feeling the chill of the December air invigorate my spirit.

As I drove home, the world outside seemed different. The colors were more vivid, the sounds more alive. I could almost hear Shon’s laughter in the wind, a gentle reminder that I was never truly alone. The magic of the snow globe had awakened something within me, and I vowed to carry that magic into the world, to seek love and connection wherever they might be found.

And so, with the snow globe nestled safely in my heart, I embraced the future, ready to create new stories, new memories, and to share my magic with others. For in the end, it was not just about the time I had spent in that enchanted world, but about the love that would forever illuminate my path, guiding me toward whatever came next.