3 - The Red Castle

                "What is your first vivid memory?"

                One can say that the first memory of a child will be the time they will first open their eyes to the world. But contrary to this, the first memory a child will really have will be the first thing that will cause them a powerful emotion. It can either be e feeling of pure happiness, embarrassment and in my case, fear. This memory can affect the child as he or she grows up. The first memory I really remember was truly terrifying. I mean, who would want to be unable to escape a giant maze and get lost in it? No one will, specially not a 2 year old girl.

                I can't remember the date exactly when it happened but I can recall my mom waking me up at 8 in the morning saying we would go to some place that was a bit far from home. I can't recall if it was Alabang or another place near there, but I do remember travelling by my dad's white car for a very long time. I fell asleep during the car ride like any 2 year old would, and when I woke up we were already at the place mom said. It was a big building, gigantic for a child, and inside was just as big. There was a giant playground with this red plastic castle and big and long slides around it. It also had this neat place where the kids will be able to jump as much as they can. There was this swing at the top of the castle like playground. There were kids all around the place, playing and laughing happily. But even though it seemed like a wonderful place for a kid at that age, for my eyes as a two year old kid, it had this red aura around it, a passionate aura that can give you true happiness at the same time get it from you violently.

                My parents made me go in that castle. As I got in it, climbing up to the top wanting to try out the swing first, all I could see was red. Red everywhere I looked. Red above, bellow, left, right, upfront, and behind. Not wanting to stay in the red place anymore, I continued to move forward, crawling to the top. Once I got out and saw the swing, and I could see the other colors however small it may seem, I smiled and ran to the swing. I didn't look down as I swung to the other side of the castle. As I got down from it, I laughed happily and ran around till I got to the slide. I continued to play and go further inside the castle. For a child to be able to feel free and enjoy all the things that surrounds you, I forgot all about that red aura and just played. played until my heart's content.

                This spell on my mind, the thing that blinded my eyes, was broken by my mom calling out my name. Still hazy from the spell, I looked through the window and saw my mom smiling and telling me to get back down so that we could eat. When I saw her, it seemed like the red aura was thicker than I remembered. It was all around me, suffocating my and filling up my line of sight so that all I would see was red. Wanting the warm embrace of my mother and the caring face of my father, I looked for the exit to the castle. But I couldn't see and remember where to go. Everything was red, I can only see my parents through that small circular window. I ran frantically in any direction, tears running down my face, but I just always ended up by the same circular window. Then I screamed.

                I can't remember what happened next, or how I got out of the red castle, but I do remember that I got out of it and in the end, got to eat with my parents by my side. There was no more red since then, even though the castle was just behind us. It always stayed there, behind me, behind my mind as I grew up. And because of that castle, I realized that I just can't live without my family. Never will I go back to the red place again, I shall stay by this warm bright place I call my family.