For many of us the price for anything is too great, and for this reason I leave you with one request: be careful what you wish for because in the end your wish may be granted.


Legend tells of a tale, about a young man, who too tried to break though the abrasive wall of the dream world and reality. Our story takes place on a hot summers night. The city was thriving with life, echoing the sounds of car horns and entwined with the sounds of laughter. The sidewalks were peppered with tiny little droplets of crystals clear liquids left over from this morning's shower dew. The water-glazed roads shone like a newly bought mirror, reflecting the lights, off the streets lamps bright, blinding white glare and stoplights duel memorable reddish glow, which is emulated by the shadows that once protect their undefined forms. Creating an eerie feeling as the two lights met each other at a single point in the road, and began to congregate into this one blinding light source, forever, staining the road in a blood like dime colour.

Now it is the stroke of 1:00 p.m., and you could hear the church bells ringing in the far distance, the traffic has become less frequent, and seldom. The careful laughter that was, is now replaced with drunken hollering and screams, the once refreshing air, now tastes bittersweet. As the once hot summer day seemed to no longer exist, replaced by a quite, harmonious playful breeze that wafts though the empty streets.



Looking though his window of his one bedroom apartment, Derrick saw the city as a blur, and as a place that he would never be accepted into.
Turning away from the window he gazed around his lonely apartment that was now submerged in darkness. He later found himself walking towards the refrigerator, deciding he felt a little peckish. He placed his hand slowly on the handle of the refrigerator, and slowly pulled with a light tug. A bright, blinding white light, and a humming sound of the generator escaped from fridge. Filling his head and the room with vibrating clunks. Clearing his head, and focusing his eyes to the light, he began to search though the fridge. Pushing aside the ketchup bottle, and the salad dressing, finding that nothing interested him. He closed the fridge and walked to the far ends of the room to the washroom and later returned with a newly washed face.

He stopped in front of the door, picked up his jacket and slowly put it on, carefully putting both arms through. Later taking up his keys and wallet; he placed it in his right pocket and walked out the door. Walking down the hallway he couldn't't help listening to the voice and laughter at the other side of the door, and how this piece of wood (the door) acted like a barrier between them and their entire lives. His thoughts still stayed ponderous as he stepped onto the elevator, and walked off, heading down a dark hallway. He walked down the dark corridor- like pathway in order to reach the roads. Again submerged in darkness he listened to the clawing sounds of the rats, and the sound of moving garbage cans that were inhabited by large unfriendly alley cats. Turning the corner he found himself walking down the dark side of the road (the lights had gone out on this side) in the dark, he walked to an all night coffee shop. Inside he sat at the far side of the room that was close to the window, that gave him a better view.


The waitress later brought him his order: a small coffee black, no sugar, and a club sandwich. She placed the food onto the table without even giving him a single glance. She was about average sized, light brown hair, and dark hollow emerald eyes; it seemed she hadn't't slept in days. She wore a short pink-cropped dress (that looked like a maid's) and a waistline white apron that she wiped her hands in as she walked away. Derrick found his eyes glued to her, and her every movement. His eyes followed her to the counter were she took a yellow sponge and began to attentively wipe down the corner her eyes never leaving her hands. Then all of a sudden her head began to lift and her eyes now rested upon him. They stared at each other. He was the first to look away. Now concentrating on the food, that she had just given him, he took a couple sips of his coffee, and sat it down once again on the table. Looking at a single dark brown teardrop that had escaped his lips, and was now slowly running down the side of the cup toward the table.
Taking a bite of his sandwich he turned around, and stared though the open window to the cars that whooshed by, each containing a passenger, going their own individual way, continuing their own exciting and well- formulated lives.

He paid his bill and stood leaving a tip of five dollars beside his now empty coffee cup he walked out of the shop into the cold bitter night air. If there was any trace of warmth, of the warm summer day before there was none now. He walked down the dark street listening to his footsteps, which gave him accompaniment. Turning a corner, he strolled down a dark alleyway once again, In order to lead him back in front of his apartment building. Finally, drawing his eyes from his aching feet he found himself face- to- face with a brick wall and several others that surrounded him and seemed to close in on him. Not wanting to think that he was lost, because he couldn't't hear anything like the distant sounds of traffic or the silent drop of footsteps as they padded by. So he turned around and decided to head in the next direction, thinking that he had overlooked where he was going, and took the wrong path.

As he walked down the pathway once again he found himself face- to -face with another brick wall, again not panicking he turned around and walked once more in the next direction, and once again the same thing this time panic began to creep slowly up his spine taking hold. Turning in every which direction he was always face-to-face with another wall. He turned the corner again and again until he was almost nauseous with confusion. It was like he was running around in a maze of some kind. He finally tuned into the corner thinking that this might be his last, but what he found was that in the shadow in the far end was a low unfamiliar sound, getting louder by the second. Unable to move or go forward he decided to turn back around but he was faced with another wall. The panic inside began to swell. Feeling trapped he began to brace himself on the wall fearing what might come from the shadows. Inside the shadow was pitch black, making it impossible for him to see towards the other sides. The noise began to get louder and louder, until it started to sound like wheels that needed to be oiled.

From inside the shadow first slipped out a large grey rusted wheel, and a large rusted broken down wooden cart that was attached to them. What slipped out from the shadow next, was slim almost decaying looking hands, that were attached to a most gut- wrenching looking old man you'd ever seen.His face appeared, sunken in so you were able to see the imprint of his skull though his skin, The colour of his skin was a mixture between several different pigments of flesh; each more distasteful than the next. He slowly walked from the shadows into the light that that had appeared from nowhere, He then started to look at Derrick in the strangest of ways, in some way he felt violated, and appalled at his expression. He looked Derrick up and down and he finally spoke to him in a shallow almost breathless voice,
' Do you want to see something boy?'�
The old man said in a breathless whisper.
'I have been looking for someone just like yourself'�.

Stepping away from the fear that had took a hold of him Derrick finally spoke up:
' Like what?' he ask in a strange almost demanding voice that had escaped from his trembling lips.

The old man looked at him and did not answer. Instead he took something from his cart and held it up to the light so that Derrick was able to see. Once again he said in shallow whisper of a voice,
'Watch'�.

Derrick watched as he placed a flesh- like looking mask over his face smoothing the ends so that there was no seam. He then took his two skeleton hands and smoothed down the edges of his hair. Everywhere he touched, sprung golden curls. His face once again became hidden in the shadows. He turned toward his cart and tuned on a small oil lap and looked at reflection of himself in an old broken hand mirror that seemed to have mended it self-back together as he looked into it. When he turned around Derrick found himself in disbelief as he stared at the young man that was in front of him. For he was no longer old and his discoloured skin was no more, instead it was clear like the purest of silk and fair. His hair that was once so grey, brittle and dry was no more, because it sprung golden curls, which reflected the lights, and symbolized youth, he took up the mirror in his hands. Looked at himself and started playing round with his hair finally he turned around and spoke to Derrick. His voice no longer breathless, but it had a playful sound of humour in it;
' I always wanted to be blond, how about you?'�.


Derrick stood there and said nothing, and just stared. Finally the silence was broken.
' This can be all yours boy. You can have a whole new life'�.
' People will no longer feel sorry for you, you can finally hold you head high, and may be have a relationship, with a girl of course '�.
' You can look like everyone you've always wanted, and all your wildest dreams will come true I promise you '.
As he finished a small smile began to play on his lips.
' Don't believe me?'�
With this said his fingers edged for the ends of the mask, and slowly began to peel it away. With it off, he stared into the mirror. The mirror began to slowly break into pieces.
The old man finally faced Derrick once more, making Derrick realize he had forgotten how truly ugly the old man truly was. Once again the old man spoke in his low shallow breathless voice.
'These can all be yours Derrick:'�
But as he said Derrick's name he did not cower because he was paying more attention to the mask in his hand and he thought to himself could this be me? And in the back of his mind he heard a little voice deep inside him that screamed YES.





When he got home it was about 3:00 a.m. in the morning, meaning that he had only four hours to sleep till he had to go to work later, at one of the largest companies in the city. Sadly he was still working his way up. The job paid next to nothing, but yet he still stayed. Maybe hoping that one-day, just maybe someone would listen to the ideas he had to put on the table, but still that is only a dream because who would listen to a twenty- four year old that still looks like he is in high school? With that thought he fell into a deep sleep thinking about the possibilities of tomorrow.



After coming from a long day at work, he sat in front of his computer trying to think of a better way to present his product, to anyone who would to listen to his ideas. With that thought in mind his memories led him back to the event of last night. He stood up pushing the chair aside, and walked across the room towards his bed, where he bent down and reached for something underneath. He pulled out a small object that had no definite shape. It was wrapped in a dark glazed plastic bag, which he took with him to the washroom. Before stepping in the washroom he turned on the light, and found himself having to adjust his eyes to the light. He placed the wrapped object onto the counter, ignoring it for a second as he traced the outline of his face, with the pads of his fingers.

He thought to himself for a while there are many things he would like to change about himself, but two things he would never change. The color of his hair that reminded him of his late father, and the color of his eyes that reminded him of his late mother. He began to draw circles around his dark colored emerald eyes, and played with his rich colored chestnut hair. He later unwrapped what was in the plastic bag. Pulling out what looked like a ball of pink flesh. That night the old man have given him a different face saying it would be more to his liking. He held the mask in his hands and slowly slipped on to his face. At first if felt strange, but when he began to smooth down the edges, it felt like his own skin; now the biggest test-the mirror. He slowly tilted his head to face his reflection he couldn't't believe what he saw, that was him, staring back at himself.

He felt like a stranger in his own bathroom. Not being able to bear it any more he slowly began to peel the mask of his face. He took off the mask and stared inside, inside was no longer plastic covered surface, but more like real flesh. Trying to clear his head he put the mask to his side and began to walk from the washroom. Unfortunately, the mask became caught on a nail. Seeing this Derrick brought the mask to his face, and to his surprise a red line of liquid began to drip from part of the mask caught on the nail, but it looked more like an open wound. Then just as suddenly the wound began to close in front of his eyes. Without panicking, he walked swiftly from the washroom to the bedroom, and threw the mask on a stack of books before climbing into bed.



When it was time to go to work, and time for him to step though the door he couldn't't, because it felt as if something was calling to him, something he couldn't't make out. Then it all became clearer when he felt a strong gravitation toward the pile of book were he had thrown the mask last night. Without thinking he grabbed the mask, placed it on his face and went out though the door without looking back.



A month has passed and now everything seems to be going well. He have started a new relationship, and become a partner in the company. They were finally listening to his ideas, on how they can improve the company, but lately, he was begging to now sleep in the mask, even thou that was the first rule the old man told him not to do. Nevertheless, he couldn't't help himself there was a greater power or force at play that sometimes tried to take him over. At times, Derrick could find himself acting out of character, unable to help himself. However, life was good, for you see he had been invited to his first company party, it was an annual gathering held for years but he was never invited. It was a costume party, the party of the year you may say, and for the first time things were looking up for him. This party was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him.




Inside the music was loud; people all around had smiles on their faces and seemed to be enjoying themselves except him. For some reason he did not feel welcome. Everyone came up to him and told him how happy they were to see him, but in the end, Derrick thought who did they see: the mask or me? As usual, he wiped that thought from his mind and tried to have fun, but every time he let loose, he found himself losing control of himself, becoming a different person. Once again that strong force came over him, again he fought it, by pulling himself away from the party, by going though the back door, entering in the cool night air. As he stepped through the door it began to rain. Derrick tilted his head towards the heavens wanting to feel the rain on his face, but he couldn't't, for it was not his face. He slowly tried to find the edge of the mask but it was not there, he started to panic clawing at the mask that was now becoming his face. Not being able to take it anymore he screamed into the cold night air, but the voice that escaped was not his, and he had never heard it before.

The rain was now coming down a little much harder. He found a crack in the ground that has been filled with water and looked in to it as a mirror. The face that looked at him was not his, and the eyes that stared back at him were not those of this mother, now they were a dark blue, and the hair that had once reminded him of his father was no longer there. Everything that reminded him of them, and of his former self was now gone. Now he stared unblinking into the puddle looking at himself though the eyes of a stranger. Listening to the distant sound of squeaking wheels in the far distance, and the laughter of an old, man that would forever haunt him, as he screamed like a mad man into the cold night's air, 'your wish has finally been granted.'�

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