It was a sunny day with dazzling sunlight; so hot that anyone would take their shirts off when nobody's around. I, a painter living at the coastside for some kind of an inspiration that would lead me to draw a "painting of the century", called the host at the hotel to order a breakfast. "Get me a newspaper - California Tribune, if possible - and some toasts with jams and a glass of orange juice." 'What should I do today?' I was running out of money because I didn't have a fixed job yet. Then, a hotel worker brougdht me a newspaper and I naturally searched through the help-warranted ads. A psychology experiment caught my sight - "$200 per day for 3days", the advertisement said. 'Hmm.... that's a fabulous offer', I thought. It was about staying in a large sealed building in which the environment for this experiment was set; "No PHYSICAL HARM ASSURED", it sai. 'All right, I'll go for this'. And that was when my life changed unimaginably.
After having finished the meal, I headed toward the place mentioned on the newspaper. It was a battered building with 5stories.
I entered.
I entered with expectations.
I entered with expectations without knowing that the event will change me into a whole different being.
I entered a brave new world.
A doctor came and asked me if I came to join the experiment. 'Yes. I am quite interested.' The person made me to sign a contract - it said something like "This experiment may give big shock on your life. If you with to maintain a normal life, you may not participate in this experiment". 'Well, I am a strong person. Besides, I need this money'. And I signed the contract.
The whole experiment was about staying in a closed room for three days without any social contacts. I was not able to write letters, send e-mails, call my family, and even say hello to the gate keeper of the building. At first, I thought it would be easy - because I basically live a lonely life without much social relationships.
On the very first day, I sat in the empty room thinking about my past - my school lives, previous job experiences, fight with my parents, and so on. I tried to dig out every single memories in my brain that are memorable. I thought and thought and thought. Surprisingly, only three hours passed. Then, I slept. Only two hours passed. I suddenly found out that there was nothing to do. 'What am I gonna do for the remaining 67 hours?' Oh my God....
Before the second day, I was already thinking that I might become insane. What in the world should I do.... Then, I thought I may think about pictures. Since thinking was all I could do, I thought about renowned paintings by Da Vinchi, Rafael, and other artists. Then, I thought about how I am gonna draw a fabulous everlasting painting. What are the qualities that define a good painting? What should I draw about? I was turning crazy... Nothing came up and thus I was too lethargic to do anything...
On the second day, I wished I could die for two days and come back. I just lay on the floor and spent the whold day... thinking, intermittently, about my life's aim; drawing a picture of the century.
That night in my dream, I became a renowned artist. My paintings were priced higher than those of Da Vinchi's or Pollock's. I saw my drawing in the picture; it was drawn with a blood. At first I was very shocked. Then, I recognized; a drawing that reflects my life and my true feature is the one that would obtain perpetual influence.
I woke up thinking about the dream. 'It is the last day', I thought. Then, I suddenly recognized that I was sleeping in the hotel. 'What is happening?', I thought. In my hand, there was a California Tribune and on the table there were toasts and an orange juice. While eating, I knew I've gotten an inspiration.
That day, I started drawing a picture. That picture is the picture of the century for me. That is the picture of the century both in reality and in the dream world where I underwent the psychology experiment.
After having finished the meal, I headed toward the place mentioned on the newspaper. It was a battered building with 5stories.
I entered.
I entered with expectations.
I entered with expectations without knowing that the event will change me into a whole different being.
I entered a brave new world.
A doctor came and asked me if I came to join the experiment. 'Yes. I am quite interested.' The person made me to sign a contract - it said something like "This experiment may give big shock on your life. If you with to maintain a normal life, you may not participate in this experiment". 'Well, I am a strong person. Besides, I need this money'. And I signed the contract.
The whole experiment was about staying in a closed room for three days without any social contacts. I was not able to write letters, send e-mails, call my family, and even say hello to the gate keeper of the building. At first, I thought it would be easy - because I basically live a lonely life without much social relationships.
On the very first day, I sat in the empty room thinking about my past - my school lives, previous job experiences, fight with my parents, and so on. I tried to dig out every single memories in my brain that are memorable. I thought and thought and thought. Surprisingly, only three hours passed. Then, I slept. Only two hours passed. I suddenly found out that there was nothing to do. 'What am I gonna do for the remaining 67 hours?' Oh my God....
Before the second day, I was already thinking that I might become insane. What in the world should I do.... Then, I thought I may think about pictures. Since thinking was all I could do, I thought about renowned paintings by Da Vinchi, Rafael, and other artists. Then, I thought about how I am gonna draw a fabulous everlasting painting. What are the qualities that define a good painting? What should I draw about? I was turning crazy... Nothing came up and thus I was too lethargic to do anything...
On the second day, I wished I could die for two days and come back. I just lay on the floor and spent the whold day... thinking, intermittently, about my life's aim; drawing a picture of the century.
That night in my dream, I became a renowned artist. My paintings were priced higher than those of Da Vinchi's or Pollock's. I saw my drawing in the picture; it was drawn with a blood. At first I was very shocked. Then, I recognized; a drawing that reflects my life and my true feature is the one that would obtain perpetual influence.
I woke up thinking about the dream. 'It is the last day', I thought. Then, I suddenly recognized that I was sleeping in the hotel. 'What is happening?', I thought. In my hand, there was a California Tribune and on the table there were toasts and an orange juice. While eating, I knew I've gotten an inspiration.
That day, I started drawing a picture. That picture is the picture of the century for me. That is the picture of the century both in reality and in the dream world where I underwent the psychology experiment.
I'm not sure it follows the structure of "metafiction," but it is an interesting piece of creative writing. Good structure and nice ending that brings us back to the first moment. I had fun imagining this and you have some nice descriptions etc. Kind of a haunting little story. Good work.
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