Afrodite's voice echoed in Vivienne's mind, soft and alluring, carrying a curious blend of power and amusement:
— I bring here women who are dissatisfied with their realities… who seek something more, something true. Many, many are here now. And I like… I like to watch the story each one will write in this place.
Vivienne felt a shiver run down her spine. Each word was a mixture of promise and mystery. Women unsatisfied… seeking love… so many stories… and Odette is by my side… A warmth rose through her body, mixing curiosity and fascination.
— Some find what they seek, — Afrodite continued, almost laughing in Vivienne's mind — others… get lost. But even so, it's fascinating to see how the heart reacts when it finally finds what it desires.
Vivienne squeezed Odette's hand, feeling the comfort and security of her presence. At the same time, her mind buzzed with possibilities, imagining each woman, each story, each secret hidden within that vast place Afrodite had created.
My desire… is already complete, Vivienne thought. And yet… it's impossible not to be fascinated by all that exists here.
Vivienne felt the image appear in her mind, as if Afrodite were projecting that woman's life directly before her. She was a woman trapped in the monotony of the city: gray apartments, endless traffic, hurried voices, and screens constantly glowing. Each day was a repetition of the last. She woke up early, grabbed her coffee in a rush, fought her way through crowded subways, and spent the day in an office that drained her time and energy, surrounded by indifferent colleagues full of petty, meaningless complaints.
Hours dragged on. Tasks piled up. She sighed while staring out the office window, seeing the city sparkle but feeling nothing beyond boredom and frustration. Returning home, the night was even heavier: unanswered messages, obligations that demanded nothing from her, the television on to fill the silence. The world seemed to offer her everything, yet she felt nothing.
Afrodite spoke in Vivienne's mind, each word like an invisible touch: "She wants something real… something that makes her heart beat, something that transforms the monotony into life. Here… she can begin writing that story."
Vivienne felt a shiver. It was impossible not to get lost in that urban, tedious reality, yet at the same time, it was fascinating to imagine how that woman would react when brought to a place where every desire could become possible, where every emotion could be fully felt, far from the city's monotony.
Even with all the fascination Afrodite showed her, Vivienne squeezed Odette's hand, feeling certain that her own heart had already found what it sought. But imagining that woman, so trapped in routine and about to discover something extraordinary… made Vivienne smile softly, curious and enchanted.
She was sitting at her office desk, staring at the computer screen, cold coffee beside her, when something began to change. First, it was a strange sensation in her eyes, as if the fluorescent light above had flickered in a way it never had before. The hum of the air conditioner seemed to grow louder, each click of the keyboard reverberated in her chest, and the weight of daily tedium became almost physical, pressing on her shoulders, tightening her chest.
She blinked. The building, the colleagues, the city… everything began to distort, as if reality were being blurred around her. The gray concrete of the street dissolved into shadows, the traffic turned into lines of light that twisted and intertwined. The whole world seemed to breathe, pulse, pulling her out of the life she had known.
— What… is happening? — she whispered, her voice trembling, swallowing hard.
A gentle warmth began to envelop her body, rising from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. She felt as if she were being undone, atom by atom, and reconstituted somewhere she could not comprehend. It was terrifying and, at the same time, fascinating. Each heartbeat echoed in her mind as if being synchronized with something greater, older, more powerful than anything she had ever known.
Suddenly, everything became silent. The pressure of the city vanished. The cold of the air conditioner, the smell of burnt coffee, the murmurs of colleagues — none of it existed anymore. Only she remained, and the sensation of floating, suspended between worlds.
And then… she opened her eyes.
There were no more offices, streets, or buildings. There was only the infinite garden, illuminated by a soft light that did not come from the sun. Golden and pink petals fell around her, and the air was charged with an energy that seemed to pulse with life itself. The scent of flowers was intense, almost hypnotic, and the sounds around her — the whisper of the wind, the song of invisible birds — seemed to speak directly to her heart.
She blinked, trying to process it, feeling her body light, agile, awake. The monotony, frustration, and loneliness of her previous life seemed distant, like memories from another existence. Each step on the soft grass was a sensation of absolute freedom, as if she could finally breathe after years trapped in a world without color.
Where… am I? she thought.