Caught Between Good and Evil

Here I am. Little me, finally having to choose between good and evil. It's a dreaded choice everyone has to make at sixteen, but never an easy one. I have practiced both types of magic my whole life, but now it all pays off. 

The warm sunlight shines through the sparkling stained glass windows, one portraying a scraggly wicked witch, and the other an enchanted, elegant fairy. It's my time to choose which one to open; although I am alone, I feel like thousands of people are staring, eagerly anticipating my decision. Do I follow my wonderful mother and choose evil? Or my powerful father and choose good? My brain is telling me good, my heart is telling me evil. I rapidly contemplate my options: live a life of fantasy and fortune and practice light magic, or live a life of mystery and adventure and practice dark magic. I am terribly torn between the two. My parents were never meant to be, but here I am, trying to figure out who I am meant to be. 

Sometimes I wonder, why me? Why did I have to be the one born into this life, bound to never succeed? But now, it feels like I will finally have a purpose. I am in control of my life now, it’s all up to me. So, the million dollar question is, which one do I choose?

My older brother always told me to choose good. He did, but look at him now. Maybe, if he had chosen evil, he would still be here today. I can still hear him whispering in my ear, Leila, good is the only option. You’ll regret choosing evil. Do I listen? The sensible choice feels like good, but the right choice feels like evil. I wish it wasn’t like this. Why can’t I practice good and evil? What if I choose evil and am damned to a life of misery? But, the same could happen with good. I have a 50-50 chance of happiness, and it all depends on this moment. I can’t believe this is happening. Nothing feels real; I feel like I’m floating, and not in a good way! But, I have to choose. I can’t have both- but what if I can?

Suddenly, I have an idea. What would happen if I opened both windows? Could I practice both good and evil? I have no clue if it’s possible, but it’s worth a shot. My time is running out, and I feel called to both. I have to try. 

I step up to the window on the left, the evil one, and turn the latch. It falls open, and I am exposed to a dark and fog-filled forest. I take a deep breath and step through. Instantly, I feel the cool breeze of the misty forest, and I feel at ease. I take a look around; there’s a murder of crows flying across the dark, royal blue night sky, and they caw at me as I walk down the path in front of me. The path is windy and made of stones, and I can’t see far in front of me because of the thick fog. The trees surrounding me are large and curvy, with their branches growing every which way. I feel small eyes watching everywhere, and I can tell I’m not alone. 

Although the atmosphere here is eerie, it’s peaceful; I know I have made the right choice. I feel like I belong here. It feels like home, and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. I feel called to this forest, like I’m meant to be here forever. It’s almost like a magical high, I’ve found my calling. I know why my mother chose this adventurous path now, and I can’t believe I considered following my father and brother. I feel powerful, unstoppable, amazing. I feel like I’m on top of the world- the world of magic, that is. 

I look to my right and see a cat in the three. It’s a silky black color with piercing blue eyes, and I feel drawn to it. I walk towards it, and it jumps down from the tree. At first, I panic, thinking it has run away from me, but I realize that it is actually leading me somewhere. I eagerly follow it, wondering where it will lead me. I chase after it for what feels like hours, and then I see it in the distance.

The Palace of Dark Magic. It’s beautiful. It’s towers are sky-high and a beautiful obsidian color. There seems to be hundreds of windows, which tells me there’s definitely space for me. I know what I have to do, although it seems daunting. I have to climb the cliff side and knock on the front door, and tell them I’ve made my decision. It’s frightening, but I know I can do it- I have to. The cat circles my feet and meows, and I keep walking. It leads me to the edge of the cliffside, through the fog and trees. This next part has to be done alone. No way a cat can climb a cliffside, right? But, it does. It bounds from ledge to wobbly ledge until it reaches the top, and it pokes its head out to look at me. I place a shaky hand on a ledge close to me and start to pull myself upwards. It’s hard, but I can manage. Within seconds, I become tired, and wonder if I’ll be able to make it to the top. But, I push through and make it to the top. I pull myself up to the final ledge and suddenly I see the beautiful castle. It’s literally magical, and the architecture is to die for. I see the huge wooden doors, and take a step forward. Once I get close enough, they sense me and open. I pause while they open, just taking it all in, and then I walk inside the doors. There’s a dark elf at the front desk. He looks up.

“Leila Winster?” He asks.

“That’s me.” I whisper back.

And just like that, I know I’m right where I’m meant to be.