The Seemingly Magic Mansion

Upon first glance, the mansion on the hill appeared to be run down, practically in ruins, on the brink of collapse. The house was gloomy and had been neglected for what appeared to be decades. Suddenly, as if by magic, it burst into a magnificent display of pristine beauty. It had undergone a dramatic transformation and was now coated in a radiant shade of white accentuated by a sleek black trim. 

The windows, doors, and shutters are all stunning. Beautiful light fixtures illuminated the house, and there was a splendid array of flowers and plants adorning the front and sides of the property. The unimaginable changes had happened instantly and were simply breathtaking. Did this happen or was it a mere illusion?

She wondered how the once run-down mansion she had seen only moments before could have transformed into such a gorgeous estate. Was she imagining things, or had it magically undergone a remarkable transformation? How could this be? Was her mind playing tricks on her? Did she want it to be perfect so desperately that she imagined it? Doubt and curiosity consumed her, the only way to find the truth was to trek up the hill and investigate. She had to know the truth.

Upon reaching the grand front door, an impeccably dressed gentleman greeted her at the entrance and ushered her inside. Upon entering the house she was immediately struck by its beauty. The solid marble floors shine underfoot, while a stunning chandelier descends from the lofty heights of the ceiling. A large round table stands proudly at the center of the space adorned with a lovely arrangement of flowers. The foyer was adorned with two grand staircases with solid marble steps that led up to the stunning upper level.

Suddenly as if someone had cast an evil spell, the entry became dark and eerie. The staircases looked as if they were falling apart. The rails on the stairs were falling off and broken. The marble floors were riddled with cracks and missing large chunks of stone. 

The grand round table was now dull and falling apart, with a vase of wilted flowers, shattered and dead. What happened to make this entry turn dead and drab so quickly? Then, as if by magic, it turned back to its previous splendor. How was this possible? She wondered, how is it possible for a room to go from beautiful to tattered to beautiful again within seconds right before her eyes?

She wanted to turn and run but was now more determined, despite her nerves, her curiosity drove her to keep moving forward and seek answers.

Accompanying her up the staircase on the left side, the gentleman led her to the hall, eager to show her the luxurious abode. Following her guide, she made her way to the left hallway, eager to see more of the opulent residence. He tells her to go ahead down the hall, check out the rooms and he will meet up with her later. The long hallway was bright and adorned by many beautiful lights and doors going into what would certainly be more grand rooms.

But then without warning, the hallway plunged into darkness and left her disoriented and uncertain. The walls appeared to be alive, gently pulsating and exhaling with each passing moment. It was as if the walls were closing in on her and she could feel them breathing. She felt the warmth of breath on her neck and the walls seemed to be gently touching her at times.

She wanted to turn back and run away but she kept going forward until a sudden beam of light illuminated a door in the hallway. Without hesitation, she approached it and knocked gently, only to be met with a hushed voice instructing her to leave. Terrified, she remained in the hallway as each subsequent door similarly shunned her. 

Suddenly, a brilliant beam of light is shown on the door at the end of the hall. Gathering her courage, she approached the door and tapped on it softly. To her surprise, she was greeted with a warm welcome and was ushered into the most splendid room she had ever seen, with exquisite furnishings and decor. Upon opening the door, she was accompanied inside, and graciously invited to partake in tea and dessert. She could hardly believe her good fortune. 

She felt grateful to have been granted entrance to this exclusive space. There were many people in this room and all of them had dreams and goals similar to hers. How fortunate for her to have this opportunity to meet all the wonderful people in this room that she was meant to meet. At this point, she knew that the risk of pressing forward had been worth it.

Finally, she was in a room that did not change to look old and tattered. She felt welcome and loved and realized the reason she kept seeing things looking good than bad was because that is how she felt inside. She was seeing the house as what she thought she deserved instead of what she did deserve. She was a good person who spent her life doing what she could to make people feel good about themselves. However, she always heard the bad things people said to her and took them to heart. She did not allow herself to believe she deserved good things too. 

She was looking for someone who would accept her for who she was. Someone that got her. And in that room, she found many new friends with the same dreams and personality traits as her. Finally, she could see nothing but beauty in her eyes and every aspect of her life. 

The dreary mansion was just her sadness while she was looking for the true meaning of her life. She now only sees the mansion for its beauty and even if it is run down and looks as if it is in ruins, she cannot see it because she has found true happiness and joy. It is now possible for her to see only the beauty in everything around her. She has found her true authentic self and no longer has to pretend to be someone else.  

Finally, she entered a space that remained beautiful. She felt loved and at home, realizing that the reason she kept noticing more negative than positive outcomes was because that was how she felt on the inside. She sought friends who would accept her as she was and understood her. She made a lot of new friends in that space who shared her goals and values. They allowed her to finally see only beauty in herself and everything she did. 

Why did she see the house as gloomy? Because of all the things that were making her miserable as she searched for the meaning of her existence. She now realizes she deserves beauty and sees it in everything.