Imagined Walls

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room.

She held his sweater tight, inhaling the smell of tattered wool and dirt.

She fought back tears as she set her gaze on the endless forest and billowing white clouds dabbing the landscape in the distance. It was a marvelous sight. Connor used to say it was miraculous.

He'd teem with excitement and spread his arms as he imagined all the beauty that awaited them beyond these walls.

He'd vocalize his dreams of large trees, warm sun, and poppy fields.

"Poppy fields far as the eye could see!" He'd exclaim.

He'd go on about wildlife and animals - the type that only existed in images of books from times long past. Of the rivers and streams that fed the endless forest. Of the mountains and tundra and deserts.

He'd be so excited she thought for a moment he'd forget his ailment and leap to his feet.

"It was paradise" he said. "And it still is."

And he was determined to prove that.

He had planned to sneak out through the north external ventilation shaft at the Festival of Gathering. On that day, no one would be working, and all would be at the gathering at city center. That meant no guards and no active ventilation. He would prove to them that the outside world was more than the desolate wasteland the council had led them to believe.

Because no one believed him.

And now, no one ever will.

She let her eyes dart back habitually across his empty bed, and she regretted she had. It didn't seem right. It didn't seem fair.

By some cruel twist of fate, only her and Connor had been able to see the window. They'd told many people of it, and of the wonder that lie beyond the wall. But none would scarce believe the imagination of a couple sickly children. And none dare go to check, in fear of getting the sick themselves.

The festival of Gathering was today, and the muffle of a crowd of excited voices could be heard outside moving toward city center. Mari had been against his plan to escape, even if by some miracle it did work. She dismissed it at the time as the feverish dream of a dying boy. But she fantasized with him nonetheless, as it made her happy to smile with him. For a moment it brought peace, and the brief and false reality that all would be alright and the same as before.

Oh, how she missed that smile.

Mari set the sweater down on the rotting bench beside her. Her eyes fixated on a new Sun, she decided there and then that her brother's dream would not die with him. She was going to see the wonder beyond the wall.

She took hold of the lamp stand that Connor had adjusted to be a tool to help her walk and heaved herself up. Her muscles groaned and her bones ached for her to stop. But she dare not. Not today. Today, regardless of the price, everything would change.

***

The streets, adorned with bright decorations, were crowded and filled with excitement.

Most people moved to the other side of the street when they saw her coming. They'd stare in disgust as she passed, spitting on the ground as their eyes met. But she was used to this, and largely ignored them. It's funny how easily human indecency can become commonplace.

She rounded the corner to the north wall and ran into an elderly man. Even with the significant age gap, Mari was a good deal weaker than the man. She fell to the ground. The man, however, did something quite uncommon. He helped her up apologetically and compassionately. He knew she had the sick, and it didn't seem to bother him.

She muttered a quiet thank you and hobbled toward the wall.

"Girl." The man said.

She turned.

He tore his loaf of bread in two and handed her half of it.

This kindness was unwarranted and reminded her of the dream Connor had had.

"There's still good out there!" He'd say, enthusiastically.

Maybe he was right.

She took the bread and returned a smile.

***

The ventilation fans were down and there were no guards on the wall, not that they were needed anyway. No one in their right mind would try to sneak out into the supposed apocalyptic wasteland beyond.

Mari heaved herself into the shaft through the motionless blades of a large fan.

The walls of the city were thick, and the tunnels and ventilation within were as a labyrinth. Mari wandered in the dark until she saw a light - presumably from the daylight outside. It was easy enough to get out. But then again, no one had ever had reason to try.

She emerged from the wall into a lush grassland with distant forests and mountains on the horizon. They'd been wrong. Everyone was wrong. Everyone except Connor.

Where a vast wasteland of fire and brimstone was assumed to be, laid a truly beautiful sight.

Mari breathed in a deep breath and held it for as long as she could. The air outside the wall was a great deal different from that inside. It was clearer - lighter and freer. For the first time in a long time taking a breath didn't cause her lungs to ache.

And as she admired the beauty of a nature not known to her, she realized something. She was standing in a field of poppies.

Mari dropped her walking stick and began to walk independently through the field, letting her hand brush the tops of the flowers. And she felt the rays of sun beaming down on her, and for a moment mistook them for the warmth of her brothers smile.