By: Yvonne Liu

Annabelle’s hand skimmed over the old decaying brick wall lining her backyard. Suddenly, a brick clicked in and slid away, revealing an antique gold button decorated with rubies and jades.

Annabelle pushed it out of curiosity and like magic, a portal-like door appeared in the wall. It glistened in front of Annabelle’s eyes, so different from the rest of her aunt’s garden, which old and scraggly. Annabelle held her breath as she pushed open the door. Light washed across her face. Beyond, was another garden, but this one dazzling garden with bushes trimmed in a certain way so that they create towering arches and majestic animals.

The seemingly endless arches were dazzled with flowers of all shapes and sizes, from flowers so small they looked like specks, to flowers bigger than Annabelle. Flowers that look like the faces of monkeys and humongous flowers that look like cushions.

Lured by the magical garden like a siren leading sailors to their death, Annabelle stepped in, and the glowing golden door closed behind her. It was as if she was in a trance. Her feet didn’t even seem to touch the ground as she glided deeper and deeper into the garden. The garden was tranquil and the only sound was the occasional rustling of rabbits and rats leading her deeper and deeper.

A good several hours passed and Annabelle continued. It was as if she was only half-conscious, in a state between sleep and awake, with her face expressionless and her eyes half closed.

Not really walking, but also not flouting.

The garden continued forever and so did Annabelle.