Fallacious Tranquillity

The Countryside  

The countryside belies the notion that in its embrace, tranquillity reveals her purest essence. She is often envisioned as flawless, serene, and undeniably righteous, drawing both the inspired writer and the retired elder into her gentle fold. Silent in her ways, she possesses a nurturing spirit, knowing precisely how to mend a wounded lamb back to health. With tender care, she feeds it, and in return, the price of her attention is revealed.

The Writer  

In pursuit of motivation amidst silence, a writer finds solace in tranquillity’s arms. One evening, nursing a beer in a near-empty bar, he encounters an old man, whose stories of youth spill forth like vintage red wine. He recounts exaggerated tales of his past fame, of romantic conquests with charming ladies, and of the one he loved and lost — a love that left an indelible deep mark on his heart, untouched by the sands of time. The old man radiates pride as he reminisces about his youthful vanity, culminating in a quiet retirement to the quaint countryside. 

Inspired, the young writer decides to pen a tale of the one woman who forever sealed herself into his lonely soul, the one he could never claim. Days stretch into weeks of fevered writing, where he is captivated by the characters of his creation, particularly the heroine who uncannily mirrors his lost love. In the midst of longing and unfulfilled dreams, he finds temporary warmth in the company of the girl next door—a fleeting solace. 

At last, his manuscript is complete, and he returns to the busy life of home, filled with the laughter of noisy children and the invisible love of his unsuspecting wife. The book skyrockets to bestseller status, providing him with wealth and recognition for years. Yet, tranquillity soon comes knocking at his door, demanding a toll for her brief attention. She manifests through his teenage son, who glares at him with disappointment and longing, projecting a silent accusation: “You owe me for your absence.” 

Next, tranquillity takes the form of his weary wife, who has long realized that the heroine in his beloved story eerily resembles the woman he once cherished before her. She had swallowed her rising rage until it could no longer be contained, exposing the raw open wound of betrayal when she learns of his child—“a mistake in the lonely countryside,” he had calls it—before she shuts the door behind her and files for divorce.

The Girl 

A young woman, desperate to escape the throbbing pulse of the big city life, seeks refuge in the countryside, where every restaurant and park echoes with memories of a man who shattered her naive heart. He had professed love in the busy mall, stole her kisses in the dimly lit car park, and held hands during peaceful strolls. 

In her solitude, she hopes to unearth her lost strength beneath the tender embrace of tranquillity, crying and laughing in equal measure. Her appetite wavers, shifting from ravenous hunger to a deep, gnawing hole of emptiness. The grip of depression swings wildly like a Newton’s cradle, unable to decide whether to entertain or abandon her. 

At first, tranquillity appears gentle and filled with promise, a healing balm for her wounded spirit. But soon, the flicker of light at the end of her tunnel dims, overshadowed by despair. Tempted by thoughts of surrender, she stands at the edge of a bridge, daring to dive into the depths below and never resurface. A bottle of rich red wine grows more alluring than any meal simmering on the stove. The married writer next door grows increasingly appealing, embodying the prince charming she has always longed for.

Months pass since her return to the city, and her moment of recklessness forces her to bear the pain of lying on a delivery bed, giving birth to the outcome of her lonely encounter with tranquillity. Gazing into the eyes of her chubby little angel, she confronts a constant reminder of choices made and paths taken—a reflection of everything she wishes she could undo.

In her quest for a stable family for her child, she marries a man she does not love, growing old and perpetually pondering the haunting question, “What if?”

The Old Man  

The old man had clawed his way up from humble beginnings to a life of considerable wealth. His intellect propelled him to the top of his class, earning him a prestigious position laden with power and riches. In the zenith of his successful career, he amassed grand estates and properties, enough to sustain generations of his lineage.

Thus, he could afford a tranquil retirement in one of his grand properties in the serene countryside. By day, he basks in the glow of nostalgia, boasting tales of the dashing young man he once was—the one who effortlessly captivated the fragile hearts of women, even drawing the envy of eighteen-year-olds who sought fortune in his arms. Yet as night descends, tranquillity wraps around him, stirring sleeplessness wrought with heavy regret. He is haunted by memories of his first wife, who stood by him throughout his relentless pursuit of happiness, and by the naïve woman who had loved him deeply, only to be cast aside. 

The burdens of two ex-wives and children, now indifferent to his elusive existence, weigh down his spirit in the lonely depths of night. After recounting his tales to the young writer at the bar, he stumbles home, drowning his sorrows in two bottles of expensive vodka. He staggers his way to the top of the staircase and misses a step. As he loses his balance on the staircase, the darkness envelops him in a cruel twist of fate. Blood spills as haunting visions of his past—of two ex-wives and distant children—flood his mind, bringing forth a flood of regret, and as tranquillity whispers her final price for his relentless search for peace, he confronts the stark truth: his time has slipped away into the void. A breeze rushes against his ashen skin as his body releases his heat and then spirit.