The Purpose Of Finding Love

Prologue

The sounds of rain droplets are heard in the silence of the room. The fishes in the fish tank roam around freely. The tickling of the clock doesn't halt for anyone.

Dr Degeorgia places her ballpen down closing the file. She intertwined her fingers looking at her patient who sat on the sofa holding a diary.

"Mr King... I have told you and explained about it before. Our brain often tries to make senses of their surroundings in a similar manner."

"That is the reason why we dream about the thoughts we were thinking before going to sleep. Sometimes in a situation, we feel like we have seen and felt the situation before."

"Our brain construct memories in similar ways during both dreams and sedation. When you were in and out of the coma or sedation your brain is quite synchronised in laying down memories," Dr Degeorgia said.

Ace nodded his head listening to Dr Degeorgia. He leaned back on the sofa exhaling heavily.

"Mr King... I see that you have brought a diary today, did you start writing a diary?" Dr Degeorgia asked in hopes.

Ace shook his head negatively, "oh, may I know the reason behind bringing the diary with you?"

Ace stayed quiet, his gaze fixed on the ceiling of the room. It is empty and plain like his mind and heart. Dr Degeorgia waited for Ace to answer her question.

Ace has been her patient for a year now. He has been visiting her when he woke up from his coma. It was his sister who brought him to Dr Degeorgia.

She has been listening to the same dreams of him patiently. They have two sessions per month.

"Dr Degeorgia..." Ace finally spoke. His voice was calm and low like always.

"Yes, Mr king?"

"I... I have remembered my memories before the bomb blast happened..." Ace spoke.

Dr Degeorgia's eyes widen in surprise. They were waiting for this day. She is trying to help Mr King to get his memory back.

"That's good news, Mr King, what did you remember?" Dr Degeorgia questioned opening a fresh page and picking the pen she has placed on the table.

Ace became silent as scenes ran through his mind. His train of memories broke as his watch vibrated.

"Blake wanted to be a writer, his dream was to write stories and publish them. Things weren't in his favour, his parents were against his dreams. They wanted Blake to finish his engineering..." Ace started saying.

"Wasn't he a part of your team? Isn't it, his dream to play e-sports?" Dr Degeorgia questioned.

Ace shook his head, "no, he joined the e-sports for a get over and for money. He fought with his parents when they got to know about e-sports. He was with us but deep down he was breaking inside."

"What happened to him?" Dr Degeorgia asked calmly.

Ace leaned up turning his gaze to the window, watching the raindrops falling against the window.

"He dropped out of the team."

"Did he stop playing with you and your team?"

"Yes, I didn't want to stop him. I wanted him to chase his dreams, I only prayed that he find the happiness and peace he was searching for," Ace spoke.

"Where did he go then? Did he find the peace and happiness he was searching for?" Dr Degeorgia questioned.

This is the first time he is opening up to her about Blake. In all their sessions, he only spoke about his dreams and team. When asked about Blake he stayed quiet.

Dr Degeorgia tried to make him open up about Blake as Blake was the only person whom he meant before the bomb blast.

"I don't know... Blake decided to join a camp away from us and away from the home. The camp was in New Jersey, Blake never went to New Jersey. He believed that he needed a change of environment. I encouraged him to go to the camp. It was a month-long backpacking camp. He left all his belongings behind, he only carried a notepad book which consists of my contact number, address and email address. He told me that he would write me emails once in a while..."

Dr Degeorgia nodded her head writing down all the things he has been saying.

"That's a good decision he has taken. A person needs to take a break, that will help their mental health," Dr Degeorgia spoke.

Ace nodded his head in agreement, "I became busy with my tournaments and team. I missed Blake but didn't know how to contact him as he didn't take any of his mobiles or laptop. The only thing left was to wait for his calls and emails. A month passed when I finally got an email from him."

"What did the email say? What did he write?" Dr Degeorgia asked.

Ace sighed tracing his finger on the leather cover of the diary.

"He said he is not returning back. He is going to stay in New Jersey and join the camp. He decided to become a volunteer, he found his home in New Jersey. I don't properly remember the email but I remember him mentioning that he found hope which motivated him to write a story. I haven't heard from him after that but," Ace spoke

"But?" Dr Degeorgia questioned.

Ace shifted his gaze to Dr Degeorgia, "maybe after seven months, I received a courier from him,"

"What did he send you?"

Ace looked at the diary on his lap, he started tracing his fingers on the cover of the diary.

"He sent me this diary, a diary where he wrote the storyline of his novel. He wrote a note saying two things one he wanted to meet me and gave me the address of where he wanted to meet me. The second thing he wanted me to do is to read the book as he decided to dedicate it to me."

"Dedicated to you?"

Ace nods his head, "I was his muse... The male protagonist of the story is Ace..."

Dr Degeorgia stopped writing as she already know where the story is going.

"Did you meet him?" Dr Degeorgia questioned.

"Yes, I have booked the next flight to New Jersey to meet him. Blake is a brother to me and I missed him. I was happy and eager to meet Blake. While on the flight, I read the book... It was an unfinished book, he only sent me 75% of the book. I was startled and shocked reading the book Blake has written. I didn't understand why he killed himself in his own book."

Ace exhaled heavily taking a small break. "I had so many questions to ask him, I met him in the cafe. There was a festival happening and the roads were blocked. All my questions regarding the book vanished when I saw him. He looked a lot better, his eyes were glowing with unknown happiness. I was happy seeing him like that, we hugged for a while before sitting down. He said he was happy as he found the peace he was searching for. He didn't speak much about the camp but spoke about the book. I was itching to ask him about the plot of why he killed his own character," Ace spoke.

"What did he say?"

"He said he had suicidal thoughts in his mind before going to the camp. The camp helped him a lot and gave him hope to write. I asked him about the remaining story, he narrated the chapters to me but he said he didn't know how to end the story. He was working on the story, I told him that I was searching for an eSports gamer. I told him to find a candidate to take up his position in the team. He said he met a person before he could finish the sentence he got a call from the camp saying he has to be back. We promised to meet the next day and go on a long drive. The story was the only thing that was in my mind, I was astonished hearing about myself as a hero from Blake's point of view. I have never imagined that, that would be my last day to see Blake's smile."

Dr Degeorgia gave him a sad smile, Ace leaned back closing his eyes remembering Blake's eyes that reflected the happiness.

After a moment of silence, "who is the female protagonist?" Dr Degeorgia questioned even when she knew who it is.

"Julia... Blake created the character Julia for me. He said his wish is to see me with someone like Julia," Ace spoke.

"So you believe that Julia is not real?"

Ace rolled his lips into his mouth as a lone tear rolled out of his left eye.

"Yes, Julia is just a fictional character created by Blake."

"Mr King... Being in a coma is one lucid dream. The last thing you have read and heard before the bomb blast was the story narrated by Blake. The story froze in your mind, your brain started creating a story which made you believe that you are living the story," Dr Degeorgia said.

Ace nodded his head in agreement. "The answer to all your questions and dreams is in your hands. You know the truth, Blake's hero or male protagonist is you, Julia is the female protagonist. It's like listening to your own made-up autobiography. The world and words that Blake have created lived in your mind."

"Once you went into a coma, your mind started playing the story as your story. It made you believe that you are living in the story and the reality is a dream. That's the power of the brain, Mr King. It can make any dream seem true and made you believe that that's the reality," Dr Degeorgia continued.

"Yes, I have learned the truth last night. My questions are answered."

Then both of them became silent, Dr Degeorgia observed Ace as he seemed to be in deep thoughts.

"Dr Degeorgia..." Ace called.

"Yes, Mr King."

"I have decided to leave the e-sports. I want to rest my mind, with all the things that have happened..." Ace licked his lips taking a deep breath.

"It would be better for me if I take a break before I kill myself. I decided to leave this country, move somewhere far away. Is that a good decision?" Ace asked looking back at Dr Degeorgia.

"I encourage you to take a break, Mr King. It's a good idea, you need to rest. Moving away from the place where you feel like your past is haunting is the best decision you ever make. The new environment would help you mentally and physically. After all the things you have gone through, it would be better if you change your lifestyle and environment."

"Thank you, Dr Degeorgia. For being there and listening to the same old story."

Dr Degeorgia smiled at him, she knew how tough it has been for him to understand and to through it.

"So this is our last session?" Dr Degeorgia asked.

"Yes."

Ace stood up from the sofa with the diary. Dr Degeorgia and Ace shared a respective bow before Ace started walking towards the door. His fingers were wrapped around the doorknob.

"Mr King..." Dr Degeorgia called. Ace turned around to see her.

"Do not lose hope... You are a fighter, you are fighting to overcome your biggest fears. There is always a purpose for everything that happens. Find the hope... Find the courage... Find the peace... Find the happiness... Find the love. The purpose of finding everything is important to make our lives meaningful...."