Red-Light, Green-Light

Armand looks forward to his evening in the Netherland’s infamous Red-Light District. He values the multitudes of female sex workers filling the clubs and the streets looking provocative for ready-to-play tourists. Before his play date, he enters a fetish shop, Latex et Cuir, [Latex and Leather].

"Viens ici, I see you enjoy females. Maybe you want something more daring, racier than these ladies?" Henri whispers at the register.

"Sorry, I’m six years sober from drugs and alcohol, four years free of gambling. I'm here only for sex," Armand clarifies.

"Yes, tourists coming here want sex in the Red-Light District. I want to show you something, something better than vanilla sex and everyday kink," Henri upsells.

"Yeah? Go on." Armand listens with caution.

"Go to La Lune; ask for Jean-Luc. The password is "Loup Blanc," [white wolf.] He will show you a hidden room behind the bar; et mon ami, I assure you he does not disappoint."

Armand crosses the street, enters La Lune [the Moon], and asks for Jean-Luc. The bartender answers, “Oui, I am Jean-Luc. Who sent you?" He probes with suspension.

"Henri, from Latex, sent me. He disclosed the password, “Loup Blanc,” for the hidden place." Armand states.

"Why do you want to go there? What do you expect?" Jean-Luc probes Armand again.

"Expectations? I have none. Henri said that the hidden place was next-level erotic, truly wild, and amazing. But I will ultimately need to be the judge.” Armand placates Jean-Luc’s suspicion.

Jean-Luc takes him past the bar, through a tunnel, to a hidden nook. He places his hand on the doorknob. Armand grows impatient, ready to be mesmerized. He slowly turns the knob to show Armand what's past the door, beyond the light glowing from underneath the threshold.

***

Armand walks through the doorway, into the light, towards the Otherworld.

A bright green light fills the room. With Armand adding his energy, the room glows even more luminous.

Moving further inside, he discovers a crowded party with a neon light illuminating “Welcome.” Trance, jungle, techno, pop, and hip-hop music fill the room. Fragrant fruit and veg cover the walls, vertical flower gardens fill the space, exotic fish swim in large aquariums, and mermaids sing while they swim inside a grand lagoon near a hidden grotto.

“Welcome”

He spots beautiful people dancing and enjoying themselves at every turn. All the joy filling the room makes the energy level rise. This space transports him to an age where he felt his absolute best: 13, 17, 26, 34, 41, 48, and 53. These were the times he felt alive, his days filled with experiences close to his heart. He notices there is no currency or clocks anywhere. There is only positivity, light, and love. As the space grows more voluminous in size, it seems to go on infinitely. He discovers a long dark hallway past the crowds, and he wants to investigate every room. A dimly lit green exit-like sign reads, “Look Again.” Its light fills the extended hallway while he explores.

Behind Door One, he sees Laura, age 13 – the first girl he ever kissed. He enters; just then, he glances at his body to find himself 13 again. He looks into her eyes and feels the innocence he has missed all these years; he recalls her genuine laughter and unconditional love. After curfew, they meet at the park near the old tire swing. She looks beautiful sitting next to him. He closes his eyes and feels alive again, they kiss, and fireworks explode around them. Her blond hair falls onto her face, her soft hand inside his hand – they enjoy the exhilaration of being budding teenagers.

"So excited to see you, Armand. I missed you, and I'm happy you are here," Laura confesses.

"You always make me feel safe and seen, Laura. You are my best friend,” he takes her hand and smiles. She smiles back, hugs him, and they kiss.

***

The smell of fresh-baked cookies distracts him. He enters the next room, where he is 17. His Abuela shows him the art of making Mexican wedding cookies. They roll the dough, cut it into equal squares, and shape it into small balls ready to be baked.

"Abuela, me encantan tus galletas," [Armand shows his love of her cookies]. She shows him how to dip them into powdered sugar.

"I love you too, Armand. I'm so happy to be sharing our family’s recipes with you today," she smiles with sparkling eyes. He always feels connected to his grandmother in person and spirit. His grandmother raised him when her daughter could no longer care for him as an infant.

***

He roams to Room Three, where at age 26, he meets Violeta at the county fair. She is friends with his friend, Joel. He remembers her long dark hair and her beautiful smile that stole his heart at first glance. She is 24, and he knows she will be his wife one day.

"Mi amor, so beautiful to see you," They hug.

"Ah, Violeta, I've missed you so much," he smiles back at her. She was the first person in his life where everything in the world seemed to slow down – she made him feel like he was the only guy at the party. Her perfumed embrace takes him to faraway places – places where his heart soared, where his mind escaped, and where he saw his next 50 years with her.

***

He moves further down to Room Five. Now age 34, he sees his best guy friend, Marcello. He grins wide and can't believe he is so blessed to be close again. They met in high school. He was present when Armand married Violeta, when they bought their first house and when Armand started his company.

"Man, it's great to see you. Let’s catch a game sometime!" Armand expresses.

"Yes, let's! I can't believe you are here. Best friend, I have missed you. You are like my brother.” Marcello wipes his eyes.

"I know man, I've missed you too." Their friendship was solid, always encouraging, never judgmental, like belonging to an exclusive club of only two people. Marcello is in his top five favorite people of all time.

***

Next, in Room Six, he finds his sister, Giuliana. She is his younger sister at 37 while he is 41. It is Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, and she gives him the job of carving the turkey and saying grace.

"Armand, you look so grown up carving the turkey," she jests.

"Thank you for family, food, and love. We are truly blessed, Amen." He praises.

It is so good to see her, hold her, and be her big brother again. He never took that role for granted.

***

Inside Room Seven, at 48, he cuts the ribbon to celebrate his company's third location. He is proud and delighted. He enjoys being successful in his widely respected business community.

"Thank you, Mayor, for the ceremony," Armand appreciates.

"Armand, it was all you. You're a superstar." Mayor Santos replies.

Armand smiles back. It feels good to have a father-like figure proud of him today.

***

In the last room, at 53, he wears a tuxedo. Today he walks his daughter down the aisle, looks like a proud papa, and tries not to cry.

"Mija, you look amazing, so beautiful," He admires.

"Ahh, Dad, thank you for showing up. I'm so happy you are here for me. I've missed you so much," she proclaims.

***

He sits on a bench near a koi pond. He is 55 and is enjoying his experience. He is no longer reliving his past; instead, he takes a break to notice his surroundings – the large green room, the Otherworld. Everything ever imagined is available, offered without charge or strings or expectations. He wonders how no one has heard of this hidden place. How can this be? He is enjoying this complete sensory experience in this unique environment.

Next, he decides to enter a space deeper down the hall past the sign that now reads “Look Further.” It’s his future – he is excited to learn what’s ahead for him.

“Look Further”

***

At 57, he begins to see his future life. It's like a projector showcasing the places he will visit and the people he will meet. He sees a smile on his face and loves the beauty and splendor that his life has become. A new wife and several grandchildren surround him.

***

At 66, he sees himself close to retiring. He sells his company and enjoys spending his future with his loved ones.

***

At 69, he looks impressive. He sees himself living past his nineties and beyond, free of disease. His future is a life of pure happiness. Every birthday that passes means he will always have the health, vitality, and looks of a 30-year-old but the wisdom and experience of an 80-year-old here.

***

“Marcello, what is the Otherworld?" Armand asks his best friend.

"The green room is the portal to the Otherworld – a time, a place and space, that houses only your best life experiences – every time your heart swelled, every time you lived, laughed, and loved, we captured those moments and kept them personalized for your enjoyment. Pain and suffering do not exist here. You can choose to live in the past, the present, or the future and enjoy it all simultaneously, moving back and forth between times. These highlighted experiences you've witnessed simulate your best life. We thrive on happiness here.”

"We thrive on happiness here."

"There's no pain or suffering?" Armand confirms.

“No, only love and growth. We take an accumulation of all the highs your heart has ever felt. We gather all life experiences that made you extremely happy – when you felt truly loved, and we multiplied that sensation by 800%. It is pure elation, captured and surrounding you constantly. You can choose to stay in that memory – when you were 12 or 19 or 41 and relish it like a high that never ends. Relive it again and again and again. Or you can sit in the present, grateful for where the windy road your life has taken you. Ultimately you can look to the future and never experience fear or sadness, old age, or death. It's pure raw, beautiful energy. A natural high that never gets old, tired, or boring.”

“The choice is yours. You can decide to remain in the Otherworld – where you'll always be happy. Or, with free will, you can return to the Outside. Your life Outside made you feel numb and trapped, sad and occasionally delighted, moderately fulfilled, and happy at times. Both worlds offer you freedom.” He clarifies.

"Both worlds offer you freedom."

Armand confirms. "The Otherworld is a time, a place and space where there's neither disappointment nor death? Where my first girlfriend, Laura, doesn't leave me and move to Boston? Abuela doesn't learn she has cancer, and Violeta doesn't divorce me. You, my best friend, don't freeze me out, and my sister doesn't die in a car accident. The recession spares my company, and my daughter invites me to Christmas every year?"

"Yes, this is also a world where alcohol and drugs don’t exist because there is no pain. There’s no need for gambling or sexual recklessness because boredom is not an option here." Marcello reveals.

Armand takes time to absorb the details and the expansiveness of the Otherworld.

"Armand, you've always been in the driver's seat. This life belongs to you." Marcello leaves him with final thoughts, then fades into the crowd.

Jean-Luc turns the doorhandle and sees Armand. “I’m sorry, your time is up, Monsieur!”

"I'm going to stay and spend the rest of my years here." He smiles back.

The bartender closes the door. Armand removes his tie and loses himself in the deep green vastness surrounded by his family and friends – a world filled only with abundant happiness, loving energy, and radiant, glowing light.