No more creatures were seen. Just myself and the tranquil lake in front of me. The sound of frogs from a distance made me feel lonelier than ever. Oh, am I this miserable? I looked at the lake. I wonder what�s hidden in this mysterious lake. A life, not like mine? Or someone was staring at me from inside, just like what I was doing now. Could she or he be lonely there, just like me? Why didn�t this someone join me, then, so we wouldn�t be lonely together? Oh, I see, we�re from different world! That�s it! Hey, what was happening to me! I sat myself on drowsy grass. I crossed my legs and wrapped them up with both my arms. It�s almost dark. Now, crickets were singing rhythmically with the frogs.

The lake was like a pearl. Glimmering and reddish. I looked at my shadow on the surface. Big deep black eyes with long eyelashes. Long and thick eyebrows. Am I beautiful? I said to myself. Some said I had that mysterious look that no one couldn�t say what�s inside me. Really? So that�s why they can never tell how lonely I am.

"Hello there!" A soft voice woke me up from my reverie. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief. There, in front of me, stood a little girl dressed like a fairy. Not to mention her wings on her back. Wow, is she an angel? I thought scarily. But she�s smiling at me! Why should I be afraid? I smiled back.

"Oh, he�hello," I stammered, "Wwwho� are you?"

"I am an angel, you silly girl!" she smiled again. "Look, I have two wings. I can take you wherever you like. In fact, you�re under the lake now. That�s what you want, isn�t it?"

Under the lake?! I looked around. I�d just realized that I was breathing in water. Beautiful fish swimming to and fro. Then, in the distance, I saw a girl walking toward me. She didn�t have a wing. But she dressed in a long white robe. So beautiful. I looked at my clothes. Hey, what had happened to me? My T-shirt and shorts had turned into a long white robe� just like the girl.

"It can�t be happening," I almost screamed.

"She�s your friend. You�ll be with her forever and you won�t be lonely," the angel said to me calmly.

"Stay with me under the lake," the girl in white reached my hand, "Just you and me, together. Wouldn�t it be nice?"

Live under the lake, just with her?! It must be a dream, I closed my eyes. Oh, God, let this be a dream! I pulled my hand from the girl and swam to the surface.

"Stay here, please," I heard the girl calling me.

"Stay with her, dear," the angel was suddenly beside me.

"No, I won�t. Please, let me go!" I quickened my swim.

"You said you were so lonely so you came to the lake and looked for a friend. Well, that girl wants to be your friend. Why are you running away from her?" Suddenly she stopped me and took me back to the girl. I cried endlessly.

"Please, stop crying. You can�t go there. You belong here. Besides, you are lonely there, aren�t you?" the girl smiled so sweetly.

"We can do anything together, you and me. We won�t be lonely anymore," the girl took my hand and suddenly blackness was all around me.

[28 September 1998]