echo & ocean

In the beginning, there was but an echo.

So I called out, "Hey Echo, are you there?"

Echo, stirring with curiosity, replied, "Echoes stem from a sound once made. Surely, someone must’ve spoken before..."

"Perhaps it was me," came a voice, shrouded in mystery, “But even a prior sound needs a medium to travel through.” 

"Ocean? Is that really you? But this is my dream," Echo marveled, her voice a blend of joy and incredulity, "I can’t believe it."

"For ages, I've longed for a voice unlike my own.” Ocean confessed, waving her presence, “hearing you again is like fresh tides finally reshaping new patterns in the sands of my shore.”

“I’d never imagined two people could be present in the same dream,” Echo's voice still wavering.

“This place represents a beautiful thing”, I interjected, “Belief alone can bridge worlds, making the most ethereal connections possible.” My voice then lifted in song, I imagined a melody for two birds perched upon a tree. As the notes cascaded like water, Echo's touch guided the vibrations, crafting a silhouette of a young woman.

"Such a magnificent embodiment," I whispered to Echo, spellbound. Waves congregated, tenderly sculpting the form with their embrace.

"This is my vision of you, Ocean," Echo declared, as the waters caressed the silhouette into full shape.

 Ocean, beholding her new form, examined her hand, still vibrating with a tenuous sensation. "This creation is precious, Echo," she reflected with a deep fondness, "Yet, I long to know your form as well."

"But… I have no idea of my appearance," he admitted, in a shade of embarrassment.

I reassured Echo, "Within this dreamscape, hiding is unnecessary. Here, Ocean, you, and even I, can express our true selves to the fullest. Peer into the watery depths, and Echo, you might glimpse your form through Ocean’s eyes."

As Echo embraced Ocean's thoughts, a shared flush of understanding warmed them both. Ocean had imagined Echo as a dashing gentleman, and now, Echo was revealed. With another note of my own, the harmony held by Echo and the form completed by Ocean's touch, Echo's visage materialized in water.

Instinctively, Echo, embodying his form, took Ocean's radiant hand, pressing it gently to his lips in a gesture of reverence and intimacy.

And I reassured Ocean, "In this dreamscape, there's no need to hold back our passion for others—be it due to fear or vulnerability. Should you sense the beat of Echo’s rhythmic hum, you might truly find your way fully to his heart."

In this world, we are all beings of glass. Their every emotion and every connection, and every semantic reason, are on full display to each other. Echo and Ocean are not limited by a relative equation of time, so if they so choose, they can take a small fraction of eternity to analyze any one of the other’s thoughts and feelings. 

"Your emotions and thoughts, the mix of serenity and disquiet, are laid bare to me," Ocean confessed, "I value your perception of us, merged like a vast ocean—it strikes a chord with me."

"And your sentiments, mirroring my own, shine through with clarity," Echo responded, "Despite our uncertainties about this weird realm, your presence is my solace."

As their guardian and conductor, I foresaw the complexities ahead on Echo and Ocean's journey. However, their newfound vulnerability signaled to me their readiness for the trials ahead. "Now that you’ve embraced your human forms, the land—the surface beckons you. But as you transition from water to earth, you’ll need a color to distinguish your shared markers."

"Let's choose our color together, Echo," Ocean proposed. Linking forearms, they delved their thoughts in one another.

As their emotions merged, a deep, rich brownish-black color surfaced, embodying a blend of a thousand essences. "Let's just settle on black," Echo decided, sensing it offered a more powerful finish.

With black defining their outlines, I lifted a high note, conjuring a vast circular island from the depths. "May this island bring you joy, for even in its soil, time extends beyond a single dimension. You are timeless beings yourselves, and the seasons will shift, mirroring the cadence of your bond and the flux of your emotions."

Ocean with her palpable excitement, plunged into a patch of grassy meadows, from which spring unfurled around her cosmic black form. Vibrant greens painted the landscape, dotted with the rainbow hues of wildflowers waking from their winter slumber. The air was rich with the promise of renewal, the chorus of birdsong, and the gentle buzz of life reawakening. Amidst this new beginning, a solitary Daffodil stood at the meadow's heart, its golden bloom a beacon to a resilient start.

Echo, moving with a purposeful grace, found himself at the threshold of a whispering forest, its canopy alive with the vibrant energy of summer. As he knelt, spreading his palm towards the earth, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a lattice of shadows and light. Lifting his hand, he gave rise to a golden stem that gracefully split into two between the slips of his fingers, birthing a Twinflower. Its delicate petals whispered to him of unity and duality, swaying gently in the tender caress of the summer breeze.

"Just as you have woven your colors into one, so must you choose a flower together," I advised gently. It wasn’t my intention to pressure them. "This decision is more than a quick whim; it will sow the seeds of your souls across other realms, binding you for all of time. Consider its meaning, its core aesthetic."

Ocean and Echo, lifted their gaze towards me, trying to absorb the weight of my words. This decision was not just for now but truly for eternity, a symbol of both their union and their individuals.

"I've discovered mine," Ocean's voice was a whisper of certainty.

"And mine too—it captures my essence perfectly," Echo-ed the same sentiment.

"There is much more to discover, my children. You both should make a decision with which you are mutually comfortable."

As Echo and Ocean's paths crossed, the landscape around them whispered of change, six months passing with the blink of their eyes. Exchanging smiles, they proudly offered each other the Daffodil and the Twinflower. Yet, a glance, a moment of an unspoken stare in each other’s naked mind, revealed a engulfing affection for their own selections—overpowering the empathy for the other’s decision.

This time, Ocean venturing deeper into the embrace of the forest, felt the gentle brush of a Maple Leaf descending upon her head. Its structure—a marvel of nature's geometry, with veins intersecting at perfect 45º angles and eleven points marking its boundaries—offered her a sense of directional comfort.

Meanwhile, Echo witnessed the landscape's transformation under a blanket of snow, his attention captured by the vibrant contrast of a Holly bush. The symmetry of its four petals and berries, snugly fitting between his fingers, spoke to him of endurance and hope amidst the coldest times.

Amidst the ever-changing ballet of the seasons, Echo and Ocean simultaneously lifted their gazes, with the transparent exchange of their thoughts. "I think I've discovered my new favorite symbol," they declared together.

Echo delved into Ocean's reasoning, challenging her attachment to the Maple Leaf. "It's merely by chance that it fell upon you—it holds no inherent value. But Ocean, look! I, on the other hand, unearthed a symbol that can embody the both of us.”

“It’s not because of that!”

Disregarding her comment, Echo presented his case. "The Holly, with its quartet of berries and leaves, mirrors the cycle of the seasons, an Ouroboros, symbolizing future festivity and hope. Its perseverance into winter closes the annual loop with poetic grace of all seasons.”

Ocean waited intently to speak, her determination solidifying despite his blatant disregard for the Maple Leaf—his transparent thoughts dismissively echoing, "The stupid leaf’s not even a flower."

Yet, feeling slighted, she felt an irresistible urge to argue. "The natural order doesn't prioritize the end of the cycle over its beginning."

Echo swiftly countered, "But every end marks the beginning of something new."

Ocean's frustration grew, but so did her determination. "The cycle would be nonexistent without the initial burst of life symbolized by the Spring appearance. Your Twinflower and Holly owe their very existence to the beginning that the Daffodil signifies."

Echo's reactive thoughts, transparent and unguarded, revealed his inner hostility to Ocean. Feeling the clear deepening chasm between them, she saw how earnest expressions dissipated in his thoughts before truly reaching him, completely dismissed and her self-worth undervalued. "What do you even know about symbolism? I embody water, the essence of life itself, the prime mover of all beginnings," she asserted, her words aiming to underscore her identity and importance above Echo's, beyond the disagreement.

Echo felt himself teetering on the edge of a cliff, his ego bruised. The impulse to retaliate surged within him. He peered for a weakness in Ocean’s insecurities, desiring to reclaim some semblance of control.

Yet, before he could speak his words designed to wound, Ocean had already glimpsed the dark intent forming in the shadows of his thoughts. This subtle communication alone was already enough to freeze any rivers and ponds on the island.

But then, I too caught sight of his true scheme, which appeared even more deceitful. Echo had intended to speak insults so cold that the entire island would succumb to frost, leaving his winter flower as the only choice.

The sudden loss of shared trust transformed the dream dimension into a curse. Still, marked by utter openness and vulnerability, their slightest nuance of thought is open to exploitation—any notion of privacy or personal sanctuary was a fool's dream.

Echo's confusion and guilt deepened, swirling into an identity crisis. He believed any gentleman would easily leave the choice of flowers to the girl. "Why does this flower matter so much to me? Ocean, is there something wrong with me?"

Ocean had observed him with an awkward disdain, but upon seeing Echo confront his feelings, she softened, "Please don't blame the person that you are," her words of forgiveness warming the nearby snow. "But when we make mistakes, we need to apologize," her voice was heavy with emotion, "what you said made me cry a thousand times."

Despite her forgiving words, Ocean had a scheme of her own, aiming to use Echo's guilt to influence the season's change. She was utterly convinced that her preference for a spring flower deserved priority over the Holly. Echo could clearly see her silently wishing for more snow to disappear. The hopeless battle seemed to only grow more layers of awkwardness.

For another fraction of eternity, the island responded to their silent treatment. Without a word exchanged between them, the environment shifted—the summer sun emerged, drying the land, and the twinflower began to bloom. Yet, Echo found himself losing interest in his once-perceived perfect symmetry.

Echo began, “I've turned every stone within myself, pretending not to care about it. For some reasons beyond me, choosing this flower feels as crucial as life or death.”

Ocean shared her perspective, her voice imbued with a sense of acceptance, "As soon as our feet touched this land, flowers sprouted—emerging as our very first memories. I believe they define us, Echo, in a way nothing else in the universe does."

Echo looked up, a gaze of desperation. "If only someone else could decide for us, if only we could just roll a dice."

In this boundless realm, chance does not exist; there is only destiny. I wanted to interject, to correct him, but I decided it was pointless. It wouldn't be as simple as they hoped, and they would realize this in time.

"But an actually fair dice roll, Echo. Everytime I look, you're devising another plan."

"Same goes for you. Don't act like you haven’t tried to lie to me a million times."

Regardless of the method of randomness they chose, from rock-paper-scissors to staring at the sky, they each tried to outwit the other, anticipating the outcomes. Consistently, the one facing defeat would retreat, ensuring their paradox continued.

"The original voice that told us to pick a flower, it feels like so long ago I barely remember," Ocean reflected in a nostalgic tone.

"Are we trapped here, Ocean?" Echo's question, laden with defeat. His voice resonated through the silence as he turned his gaze skyward. "Why are we still here? If you placed us here, can't you also free us?"

Sitting criss-cross on the center of the island, Echo and Ocean united in their plea, "Please tell us who you are."

Who am I? I am exactly as I have shown myself: the navigator for the array of perfectly conflicting identities within a dimension that is both timeless and transparent. Yet, I wished they’d believe me—that my purpose is not to harm, confine, or torment my visitors. I believe that this situation just stems from a universal rule of opposites. Do the two attract, repel, converge or annihilate each other? I choose to embrace the concept of duality as it breathes life into existence, and not merely just individual lives; they cultivate the entirety of life, spanning from the past into the present and stretching into the future. The seed is endowed with infinite potential.

"Please, let there be an end to endless indecision. Show us a direction forward instead of forever wading in contradiction," Ocean implored with exhaustion.

"Direction, wait, that's the key! Without time, we need another direction." Echo suggested, a spark igniting in his eyes. "What if we each choose numbers? Maybe the sum would dictate the number of seasonal changes?"

“And we settle on the flower that blooms in that season?” Ocean clarified, noticing Echo's affirming nod. Yet, she remained skeptical. “That's just a version of rock paper scissors—”.

“But numbers progress towards something; they count towards an outcome,” Echo countered, his voice carrying a growing excitement.

Ocean felt a surge of hope, but tempered by the thought that it couldn't possibly be this easy.

"The presence of both of us means that escaping requires our combined efforts. You’re Ocean and I’m Echo."

Ocean's smile broadened. “That's why I admire the Maple Leaf. It has three lobes. Three. One more than two. I want to believe that even binary symmetry hints at a direction—that even cycles don’t spin endlessly for all of eternity.”

She took a step towards Echo. And Echo met her eyes. There was now a true understanding of what it means to be in it together.

“Maybe you take a flower by force—”

“I would never force you to sacrifice your identity.”

“Maybe we can take turns pretending we choose a different flower and imagine what it's like—Yet never actually make a decision.”

They will discover that "island" is just the word I used to describe it. More accurately, it is a canvas, an endless canvas—unbounded by matter, space, time, or aesthetics. As time unfolded, their seasons found harmony, syncing in perfect cycles. Seeing as they had unearthed a rhythm in their journey, I am prepared to leave them to their full privacy. It was clear their story had shifted from naive and chaotic beginnings to, finally, a purposeful melody. Yes, the rest of their eternity would be akin to music.

“After all, this is just a dream, something we should savor.”

“And even if our dream paints a picture of eternity, this dream itself will still end.”

* * *

Jamie gently tugged on Alex's shoulder, stirring him from his focus on his phone.

"Hey, beautiful," Alex greeted, putting down his device, "Did you sleep okay?"

"I had the most peaceful dream," Jamie began, sitting up and leaning against the headboard, "It ended with a Maple Leaf falling on your head." She smiled, lost in reminiscence.

"OMG, same—I dreamt about you too," Alex replied with excitement.

"Really?! Alex, what if we were in the same dream?" Jamie pondered aloud.

"Yeah, so I was facing off against my archnemesis—" Alex started.

"Your archnemesis?" Jamie interrupted, laughter in her voice.

“Yeah, I kicked his ass! But he put up a good fight. We were playing rock paper scissors, like that’s the simplest game but I swear to god, it went full MCU.”

"I thought you said it was about me?" Jamie prodded.

"You were there, you know—cheering me on! I couldn't have won without you," Alex insisted, earnestly.

Jamie rolled her eyes playfully. "Sure, let's just forget I asked."

"But, seriously, it was the craziest multidimensional psychology ever. I don’t know how to describe it—except that I won."

Jamie couldn't help but smile, admiring the uniqueness of Alex's imagination. Setting his phone aside, Alex noticed Jamie's hesitation as she gathered her thoughts. "I'm sorry for starting the argument last night, about booking the tickets for the 11th, which—"

"I know, it's your lucky number. I should've just trusted your intuition," Alex admitted, understanding her superstition.

"Who knows, that flight could have been canceled as well," Jamie mused.

Alex looked at her with a gentle expression, noticing the tear of remorse in her eye. "I forgive you, Jamie," he said softly, squeezing her hand, "Even if it didn't seem like it last night, I do now. My dream was just so... realistic."

Jamie giggled; "realistic" was hardly the word she expected. "Tell me about your stupid archnemesis. If I see him, I'll be throwing hands as well."

Alex reciprocated with his own laughter, wrapping his arms around Ocean's shoulders, while Jamie encircled Echo's waist. Together, they felt an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. It was as if every ocean carried the same message, echoing the same truth between them—it's between the Is and the yous, the world seems to whisper my name in unison.