Down, down, down by Mikaela Miyamoto

Mikaela is writing a bunch of short stories for 13 Days 13 Shorts this year! To check out more stuff from Mikaela, visit www.mikaelamiyamoto.com

I’ve already told you that my grandmother’s backyard is full of wonders. I was exploring it recently to relax and soak in some sun when I stumbled across an old well. It was as beautiful as it was eerie. Draped in vines and covered in patches of moss. I wondered if it held any secrets like the bird bath does. I wandered closer to it, keeping in mind my mother’s words to relax. I shouldn’t be sticking my nose into anymore trouble or it would upset my grandmother. But I had to look inside. Just in case! I looked into the well expecting to at least see my reflection staring back but instead I saw nothing. No water, no mysterious creature, just darkness. I stuck my head in as far as I felt safe but I couldn’t see any water. I don’t know what I was hoping for. To see my reflection in the hopes it would reveal more secrets or to see a tiny creature warning me to leave? Or to see anything really, to confirm that I’m not crazy and there really is something going on. But there was simply nothing. As I began to turn away from the well my foot slipped as if someone was yanking me backwards and my body soon followed. I felt myself falling down, down, down and my vision blurred to black. A faint voice murmured, “Wake up, it’s time to wake up. Please!” I’m not sure what actually happened, but sometime later I realized I was sitting under a tree. The sun had gone down by now and the biting cold was seeping through my thin T-shirt. I don’t remember walking away from the well. I went back to where I thought it was, but there was just another tree. Maybe I got confused because it was dark out. I’ll try to find it again another time. Or maybe I should just stay out of trouble and pretend I never saw it. I just don’t know anymore.