Emiren stood before two paths, each beckoning him in its own way. The path leading to the light seemed easy and pleasant, like a bent tree stretching its branches in support. But something about it made him uneasy. It was too familiar, too orderly to be a true choice.
The dark path, on the other hand, lured him with mist and uncertainty. It was surrounded by coldness, as if something old, forgotten, and perhaps even dangerous was hidden within it. But it was the darkness that drew him most. It was the possibility of finding something real in what was hidden, of touching something true, not just what could be seen. But was he ready for it?
Emiren sighed deeply and took the first step into the darkness. The feeling that overcame him was both heavy and liberating. Every movement seemed like a violation of something important, as though he was stepping onto forbidden ground where time slowed, and space became sticky. But at the same time, his heart raced, as if sensing something significant was about to happen.
Shadows of the Past
The path led to a large gallery, where trees with twisted, dark trunks stood like silent guardians. Their branches, curled into unusual shapes, created intricate webs that gave no chance of peering beyond. And suddenly, before Emiren, as if from nowhere, appeared a huge figure. It was not just a man; it was the shadow itself, stretching from the walls of this place.
“You’ve come to walk this path?” the voice sounded like a cold wind that penetrates to the bones. “Many have walked toward it. But not all of them returned.”
— I am ready, — Emiren said, although his voice trembled with uncertainty.
The shadow stepped forward, and before his eyes, scenes from the past began to unfold. It was something he had never seen — the small village where he had grown up. But everything looked different, not like he remembered it. The village was no more. In its place was only scorched earth and ruined buildings.
“This is what could have happened after your choice,” the voice explained. “You chose differently, and it led to another path.”
Emiren felt his heart tighten. This image was his loss, his choice, something he hadn’t even suspected. But why didn’t he remember this? Why was there no trace of it?
— Why don’t I remember this? — he asked.
The shadow smiled, and its face held more sorrow than malice.
— Because time is not just a line. It can bend, curve in different directions. And you don’t always see it in the form it manifests. You forgot it because you felt it wasn’t your reality. But every choice leaves its mark, even if you can’t be aware of it.
The Price of the Path
Suddenly, all the images shifted, and once again the same path appeared before him. But now it looked completely different. It was framed in light, which was unlike what he had seen before. This light wasn’t from the outside, but from within — the light of choice, something that seemed to radiate from his own heart.
“This is why you joined this path,” the voice said, now no longer so cold. “Because you wish to change your past. But remember, every choice has its price. And with that price, you will live, if you accept it.”
Emiren felt his heart tighten. He didn’t want to change anything, but it was inevitable. This was the path, and he was ready to walk it. One thought echoed in his mind: what price was he willing to pay for this?
The Path into the Unknown
The shadow turned to him.
“You have chosen,” it said. “And now your choice leads you forward. The only thing that matters now is whether you are ready to give up what is most precious in order to gain something greater.”
Emiren silently nodded, although the answer was unclear. He was ready to continue, even though he didn’t know what awaited him ahead. Every step he took felt heavy, but he knew it was the only path that made sense.
He continued moving forward, understanding that now, with the choice made, there was no turning back. Only forward — into the darkness and light, toward what awaited him in this garden, where each choice changes not only him but time itself.