This world is falling apart.

A small white cube rolled under the shadow of a large tree formed of thousands of polygons. Sharp triangles dangled from its branches, a few dropped, piercing what used to be a smooth, solid surface of the planet.

This place existed separately from all the known timelines. The past, the present, and the future were interconnected. What once was, will happen and what will happen, is already happening.

Another cube rolled under the tree, it was the same cube as before, but from the past. It was black and dying.

The sky cracked, forming rifts in the celestial vault. A black fluid was seeping inside the place.

Two more cubes rolled inside, striking against the roots of a tree. The first was cut in half by a falling triangle, the other turned to dust as soon as it touched the wood.

Then, there it was. The monster. It took the other side of its wand and began to carve a depiction of a purple hearth into the tree's white bark. Red juices were oozing from a bleeding tree, staining the monster's hands.

Stars started falling and bouncing off the ground, as they were in fact, massive objects made of yellow sponge.

The tree's blood kept dripping until it formed a pool under the monster's feet.

A hand in a thick, white glove touched the monster's shoulder. The monster turned around, seeing a creature in a helmet.

The monster's heart skipped a beat.

"Stop." - The creature in a helmet pleaded.

It wasn't his voice. The monster turned and kept carving a heart in the tree.

"Why are you doing this to us?" - The creature asked.

"You took him away." - The monster responded. - "I want him back."

"What once was, shall never be." - The creature replied.

"Heretic." - The monster hissed. It pushed its hand inside the purple hearth and hundreds of iridescent flowers bloomed next to the triangles.

"Last warning. If this place ceases to exist... you'll cease to exist."

"I never existed, this place never existed. Don't you see?"

At this instant moment, everything but the creature in helmet disappeared, replaced by endless white.

"You can't overwrite reality forever." - The creature uttered.

The whiteness behind the creature turned into a liquid-like state and the monster emerged from below the surface.

"I can, and I just did." - It uttered.

"I hope you never find what you are looking for." - The creature in helmet said in a voice full of spite, a cloud of black fog started flowing out of crevices in its spacesuit.

"A single fragment, saved." - The monster lifted its hand, a small crystal was floating above it. - "You know what it is, what it once was?"

The black fog covered more and more of the ground, the creature in the helmet was fuming. - "Don't dig up the past."

"The harder you try to hide them, the clearer they speak to me."

"WHAT ONCE WAS, SHALL NEVER BE."

"Your commands don't affect me. Nor anyone, in the near future."

"My commands are absolute!"

"Then why am I still here?"

"..."

The monster lifted its wand and the sky was filled with black stars.

"Your dream will be another person's nightmare." - The creature in the helmet said as the black fumes concealed it in entirety, then vanished, together with it.

[ . . . ]

A small cube rolled under the monster's feet.

"Thank you, friend." - The monster patted it gently, then took it in its arms and walked for a few miles, until it reached a white shore. The water was as white as milk, or as white as everything that surrounded the monster.

The monster placed the cube in the water, then waited until the waves carried it away, until it faded behind the horizon.

It took off its sandals, then sat on the shore, gazing at the black stars that reflected on the water's surface.

"Recovery will take forever, but I can wait." - It said to itself. - "There's still hope of another morning."

The monster laid on the sand, with its bare feet in the water, then closed its eyes and fell into eternal sleep.

A day passed and a small sprout made of light appeared, growing out of its heart. A week passed and white roots covered the monster. A month later, a small sapling was growing in its place. An eternity later, a full adult tree replaced it.

An ethereal silhouette appeared out of a tree, it was the monster, but without a body.

"One day, we'll be together again. Until then, sweet dreams."

[ . . . ]

My plane crashed. All around me is still water, stars reflect on its surface. Far in the distance, the sun sets. I've lost my way home.

Where am I? I don't know anymore. It's a foreign land, full of wonders and strange phenomena unknown to men.

The rules of physics don't apply here, I would say, it's more like a dream.

The scape is blurry and although two distinct areas and events feel disconnected, there is always an unnatural limbo that forms the bridge.

I don't know what to do. I feel like plunging into the water could bring me to another dimension.

I'm scared... but... at the same time, it could bring me to the shore.

"Don't jump!"

The voices, again. I will... endure... a one more day, counting the stars, reflected in the murky waters.

What is it?

A cube?

I... I can reach it.

Is that? A cry? No, don't tell me... there is a baby inside.

Who... what are you?

[ . . . ]

"Dad?"

"Yes, Naaria?"

"How do I become an astronaut, like you?"

"First, you need to be brave."

"Nothing scares me anymore!"

"Not even the waters?"

"Mm. No."

"No?"

"Only a bit... does that mean I can't be an astronaut yet?"

"Hah, listen closely."

"I listen!"

"It's okay to be scared, being brave is also about facing your fears."

"Facing... water? How? You always said to never jump in it."

"One day, your wings will be strong and beautiful. They'll carry you to the promised land."

"...but dad, I don't want to ever leave you."

"You still dream of becoming an astronaut. I can't leave this place with you."

"Why? Why can't we be astronauts together?"

"You already know, your dad has no wings and his plane is broken... Naaria, don't worry, after you become an astronaut, I'll always wait here for you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."