Key To A Goblin's Heart

Michael's POV. 

Light was the only thing I could remember, engulfing us as it expanded. But, what was that? Mini sun? I pondered upon as darkness was all that remained. Gradually, I opened my eyes and stared at my dark surroundings. 

There were trees, there were bushes, there were tiny grasses all below my feet. This was new to me, but in the back of my head this felt oddly familiar. I walked towards the direction which drew me towards it and I ended up walking through a few bushes.

I stood there, shocked as I stared into a house, the memory of which had been shoved somewhere in the corner of the back of my head. I kept walking, imbibing the familiarity and anticipating what was ahead. The house was tiny, it barely had rooms, might as well call it a hut. "Mikey, come in! It's getting late" A vaguely familiar voice called out. 

I froze, as I recalled the voice… could it be...?

I opened the door carefully and entered the room gradually and soon my suspicion was confirmed as I stared at the red headed lady over the counter, chopping something on the kitchen platform. "Mum"? I whispered, unable to make it louder, scared that if I spoke too loud and she turned around, I'll find out it's someone else. Whatever this was, I was worried it'll be fake.

"Mike, oh you're back, thank god" She sighed with relief and hugged me while I froze in shock that it's indeed her. But… how? To add to my shock… She picked me up. What?! That's when I noticed my hands and feet and how tiny they have become. Why am I a toddler again? Or did everything I remember was some elaborate dream? "I have been waiting for you, where have you been"? She asked with concern.

"I was… out" I mumbled, still unsure of what this is. "Mum, what's going on"?

"What do you mean"? She asked once she placed me on the couch and frowned. 

"This.. where are we?" I asked.

"It's our house," She smiled. "You don't remember"? She appeared concerned right now.

"I do but…" I took a glance around the room, how everything was in its place from all those years back. "Why are we here"?

"What do you mean? This is a nice house, you know we can't afford a bigger one" She sighed. I knew that sentence, she would say that to me everytime I suggested we get out of this place because of mean neighbours.

"This… doesn't feel right" I mumbled. 

"Did the other kids say something to you? Were they mean again"? She was on the verge of getting angry. 

"No, they…. I didn't see them" I admitted honestly. This place, it was so hauntingly homey, and it was starting to freak me out. 

Suddenly I felt a warm hand on my cold cheek, "Honey, you know you can tell me anything right"? She asked with her soft voice. The way she resembled my mother made me want to believe it was her, that whatever was happening was true.

"Can I ask you something"? I asked hesitantly.

"Of course" She nodded and smiled.

"Who was my Dad"? I asked.

"I… I told you his name right"? She frowned.

"No, I mean...what was he"? I asked. Recalling my Goblin powers, I had to ask.

"What do you mean"? She seemed genuinely puzzled. "He was a wonderful man, who had to leave due to circumstances. I am sure If I could reach out, tell him about you, he will come back".

"But he loved you right? Then why isn't he back yet"? In a childish manner I asked. It was odd how not only my appearance but my complete outlook was becoming childlike. What was happening?

"I am sure he has a very good reason" My mother replied to me with an exhausted smile. She was drained, emotionally and physically and yet she managed to smile, something I failed to do in my life. She worked multiple jobs just to make ends meet, luckily my Dad left us this house, but I still would have preferred if he didn't leave us at all.

"But that's not fair"! I cried out. Wow, I was really behaving childishly

"I know sweety, but he will come back one day. I know that" mumbled my mother, 

"How do you know that"? I questioned her.

"I do. Before he left, he whispered to me, 'Until next time'. One day, he will definitely come back. When you meet him, you will realise how wonderful he is, and you'll see how much he loves us" The way she clinging on to hope frustrated me. 

Whoever she was, a real person or just some figment of my imagination, she was hauntingly familiar to my naive mother, who believed that her love was still out there hustling for her. And just like back then I failed to convince her otherwise. "Come on, you must be hungry. I have cooked your favourite meal. Let's go and eat" she extended her hand, leading me to the vintage table in the kitchen.

As she served me some apple pie, I took a look around the kitchen. Every plate, every chair, even the oven was an exact replica of the good old house. Once my 'mother' was done, I started to eat and froze on the very first bite. I didn't exactly love pie, but I knew this was the fanciest we could afford, so I pretended that I did. However, the taste was so similar to the one she used to make, I think I might have cried out a little. 

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this pie"? She asked me.

"No mom" Through my quivering voice, I replied. "This is perfect"

"Then, why are you crying"? She sounded concerned.

"I just... love this" I mumbled. I finished the entire pie in a go. I loved it so much that I didn't even care if it was poisoned or not. Thankfully it wasn't.

Once we were done with dinner she put me to bed, tucked me in and gently brushed her soft, but calloused hand through my hair. The movement felt smooth making me drowsy, and to add one of that she started to sing my favorite song.

Hold me close and hold me fast

This magic spell you cast

This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, heaven sighs

And though I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart

I am in a world apart

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak, angels sing from above

Everyday words seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

La vie en rose

She told me that she used to love this song while she was growing up, and I can imagine why. It was so melancholic and yet so soft.

I woke up to the bright light hitting my eyes, and got down to brush and all. I was so sleepy that I almost forgot that this wasn't real. It can't be. My mother came rushing into my room, trying to get me to leave my bed only to find me awake and fresh standing in my room. "You woke up by yourself" She smiled at me.

"Of course," I nodded.

She handed me my 'school uniform' and I put it on without much trouble, apart from the tie which to this day I never learned how to do properly. 

Once I was done, she put me in her minivan and drove me to my school. What surprised me was that even the school was in its original place. The building, the playgrounds, and even the mean kids were exactly the same. The more I indulged, the more I wondered if or not this was my new reality?

Whether or not this was some second chance at life for me, or am I still hallucinating? Somehow the teacher's words appeared hazy, as if I couldn't make out what they were trying to convey. Many students had trouble understanding her, but me, I couldn't even decode what she was saying. It appeared so blurry like some poor quality youtube video.

The school seemed to be over quick enough, and just like always my mother picked me up. She drove me back, while being more enthusiastic than usual. Her excitement brought back a feeling of apprehension which for the love of god I couldn't recall.

Once we reached and I freshened up I was called downstairs for dinner. On the table I noticed that there was an extra plate on the table. Who was coming? Cause as far as I recall, no one ever came.

"Whose is this"? I asked my mother.

"Someone will be joining us soon," She replied happily.

After a few bites the doorbell rang, prompting my mother to get up excitedly. I was curious to see who it was, until she opened the front door. As soon as I saw the face of that person, I wished he never came here. I wished I never came here, and whatever horrible dream this was, I would wake up soon.