He clanked about crouching against a dry section of wall, and then relaxing he peered up toward the embrasure. He was stunned at what he saw! He stumbled about noisily as he clamored to his feet and stretched awkwardly toward the light to gain a closer view. A rose! Its thorny vine was clinging to the outer wall and the wet pedals reflected the rays of the sun, dotted with glimmering pearls of moisture. Its rich color, the real light, such unique beauty were intoxicating to one lost in a realm of ghostly grays and deep shadows. He spent many starving hours dining on its visual fare before falling asleep.
Gasping, he startled awake in the early morning chill and slowly regained his senses. "So cold", he muttered as he sat up looking about the cell. The rose! He craned about and spotted the flower dangling in through the window. It was in full bloom! The vine had come free from the wall and his prize was just below the embrasure having invaded his crypt. The chains snapped defiantly against his hands as he tried to reach up to touch the gem but his fingers could not press above his chest. He paused and he pondered, then after a bit he slowly shuffled over to the wall. He stretched his face up to the flower and gently brushed his cheek over the soft pedals of the deep red blossom. He consumed the rich fragrance as his Rose caressed every feature, every corner of his face, conveying hope and warmth into the distant shadow that was his mourning soul. He recognized the conjunction of his soul and heart, though only once before had he ever known it. Then within the aching chambers of that very heart there glided past a faint whisper, "Someday, someway, in some reality�"
He stood in the center of his cell watching his Rose, musing over its qualities. Suddenly, a low voice behind him commanded, "It is time." They had come for him. As he turned about toward the sound of the voice, his chains and shackles fell from his limbs clattering in a violent heap under his feet. The thick wooden door scraped loudly across the stones as the powerful hand steadily shoved it aside. The large figure entreated him, "Come", then turned and passed through the portal into the passageway. He followed hesitantly. Passing through the door, he entered a small foyer flanked by large forbidding doors tucked below cramped stone arches, dark in the musty haze of the passageway. Behind him the hinges on the heavy door to his former cell creaked under the weight of its mass. Before him lay a long dark passageway streaked with intervals of dull sunbeams dancing with dusty clouds of ancient particles. He inquired of his companion; "To where do we journey?"
"We do not travel together", replied the imposing figure, "you journey alone."
"But where shall I go and�" He stopped short realizing that he stood in solitude outside the cell. After a few silent moments, he then whispered to the emptiness, "And what shall I do?"
He stared numbly down the gloomy passageway wondering �wondering. He took a few tentative steps toward his future, then paused, his thoughts turning to his Rose, the source of such beautiful joy and warmth. He squinted, peering back through the door and was saddened by the sight of the blossom lying crumpled and brown on the cold floor of the cell. His eyesight was clearing and his vision was now more sure. Slowly turning away, he cast his eyes to the floor, smiled and shook his head; he was free from it all. Now the only sounds were his bare feet softly padding along the stones as he began to navigate the shadowy corridor. But somewhere in the secret corners of his heart he detected a faint whisper, a trick of the mind that toyed with him by softly repeating, "Someday, someway, in some reality�"
