The Chalk of False Hopes

Daisy     夏园梦   230110320

In early 19th century Britain, the first Industrial Revolution was transforming the countryside, blanketing cities in a perpetual haze. In the heart of a bustling city, a little boy named Hammer lived in a grand manor surrounded by a cluster of ancient, verdant, and towering trees that formed an imposing and magnificent green canopy. In front of the house, a sprawling and well-tended lawn stretched out, upon which several stately and majestic trees stood sentinel. Their thick, leafy branches swayed gently and gracefully in the soft, caressing breeze, and lending an air of profound peace and beauty to the estate.

Hammer’s father was a successful merchant who had made his fortune in the new industrial age. Their large house showed all the signs of his wealth—polished brass fittings caught the light in every room, while intricate steam-powered machines humming and hissing throughout the house. The constant mechanical sounds had become as familiar as the ticking of a clock. However, within this seemingly charmed life, a dark cloud had descended. Hammer's mother had fallen gravely ill. The very air that filled their home was thick with the acrid stench of factory smoke and coal dust, a noxious byproduct of the countless chimneys that belched ceaselessly into the sky. The nearby rivers, once clear and teeming with life, now ran black and sluggish, poisoned by industrial waste. It was all too likely that this polluted environment, with its poisonous air and tainted water, had contributed to her mysterious sickness. And in those days, when medicine was still rudimentary, there was no cure, leaving the family in a state of helpless despair as they watched her health deteriorate day by day.

One day, heavy snow was falling outside. Hammer was in his room, huddled by the window, feeling sad about his mother's condition. Suddenly, his steam-powered toy rabbit—a gift from his father—sputtered to life and coughed up a single piece of chalk. With a whirring sound, it explained the chalk's magic: "Draw a square, think of a place, and step through.” By drawing a square anywhere with the chalk and thinking of a place in his mind, the square would turn into a movable portal. Passing through it would take him to that desired place. But there was only one piece of chalk, and once it was used up, it would be gone. Moreover, every time the chalk was used, a rabbit in the world would die.

At first, Hammer refused. He clutched the chalk tightly and thought he would never use it, not wanting to sacrifice a rabbit. But when he saw his mother lying sick in bed, her face pale and weak, he wanted to do something to bring a glimmer of joy to her. "I'll just use it once and never again," he murmured to himself. Closing his eyes, he thought of the beautiful garden he had visited before. He drew a square with the chalk on the wall. The lines shimmered, and when he stepped through, he found himself standing in a vast field of colorful flowers swaying in the breeze. He carefully gathered a large bouquet of the most colorful flowers, stepped back through the portal and hurried back to his mother’s side. Her eyes lit up with a trace of happiness—until the bunny spoke up, its voice cold and lifeless: “A rabbit in South America had died.” Hammer's heart sank, and he was sad for a long time.

Yet, seeing the rare smile on his mother's pale face, he couldn't resist using the chalk again. He opened small portals to make a snowman for his mother in the snow. He rolled the snowballs with glee and decorated the snowman with a carrot nose and twig arms. Another time, he used the chalk to go to the seaside. The salty sea air filled his nostrils as he scurried to catch crabs for her. He brought back a pail of crabs and watched his mother's face as she saw his little treasures. Each time he used the chalk, he felt a pang of guilt, but his desire to make his mother happy overpowered it. As time went by, his mother's condition seemed to worsen despite his efforts. And then, one fateful day, his father's business failed. Creditors came and took away their possessions. Hammer and his mother were forced to leave their home. On the streets, his mother's health deteriorated rapidly. She coughed weakly in the cold, dirty air. Hammer tried to use the chalk to find a better place for them, a doctor who could help. But it was too late. His mother passed away in his arms, and in his grief, he dropped the chalk. It shattered on the cobblestones.

Overwhelmed with sorrow, Hammer's body gave way and he fainted on the spot. When he finally came to, he was greeted by a harsh reality that made his heart ache even more. He found himself lying in a filthy alley, his clothes tattered and torn, his stomach growling with hunger. There was no grand manor, no loving parents. He was just an orphan, alone in a cruel world. He blinked in confusion, his mind still half-immersed in the vivid memories of his previous life. For a moment, he was convinced it had all been real.

Slowly, he got to his feet and began to search the wall where he had slept. He was desperate to find a trace of the shattered chalk, a tangible proof that the beautiful and tragic events had actually occurred. But all he discovered was a rabbit skin discarded by a neighboring family after their meal. The sight of it made his stomach churn, not only from hunger but also from a deep sense of loss and disillusionment. He stared at it blankly, his eyes filling with tears as he realized that his entire experience had been nothing but a dream. The hope and love he had felt, the guilt and despair, all vanished in an instant, leaving him with nothing but an empty heart and a long, uncertain road ahead.（夏园梦）