You probably wont believe me. I still don't believe parts of
it myself.
It was a sunny and shinning Sunday afternoon, in the big
village of BurningSun. The birds, trees and children united
together in the most perfect atmosphere.
I was taking a walk through the woods - I always do that
when I need some good thinking - as I did that day.
I reached the lake, a beautiful part of my route where you
can see the lake when you look north, the village when you
look south, and a beautiful, colorful garden  when you look
east.
I began walking towards the garden, and the most beautiful,
incredible sight held me back. It was a flower, I recognized
it as a Tulip as I was the son of a gardener, but such a
tulip never crossed my sight. It was shining yellow, the
closest thing to gold ever seen on a flower, and inside
there were twinkling dots - almost like little diamonds. It
was a jewel. I stood there, staring at it for almost 10
minutes, it was hypnotizing!
Suddenly, I heard a tune. It was like a beautiful piano
music, but the strange thing - impossible - it was coming
out of the Tulip!
I came closer and closer to the thing, until my nose almost
touched the inside of the flower. The smell was incredible -
so sweet, so soft, and It made me a little dizzy, and if I
had a doubt I had no more - the music came out of this
amazing flower, a beautiful tune. I felt like
flying...drifting...as though the Tulip was sucking me
inside...deeper...deeper...I was so dizzy by now I stopped
thinking...stopped breathing...everything around me was
gold... the tune was now so strong it was almost
deafening...I was becoming part of the
Tulip...Drifting...Zooming in...Drifting...Drifting...
I guess I passed out.




   

I woke up what felt like years after, feeling a little dizzy
and not quite sure where I were or even WHO I were.
It took that same weird tune I heard to bring back the
memories - of the tulip and of my life.
I looked  around. It seemed I was in a circular room with a
soft, shining gold surface. It was the growing tune and the
strong sweet smell that at last made me understand. I was
inside the tulip!
I got up on my feet and began walking.
It looked like an endless hall of gold.
As I walked, both the tune and the smell became stronger and
stronger.
After a long while, at a point where everything was so tense
I was sure I'll pass out again, I saw the most beautiful
girl my eyes have ever seen. I'm not even sure I can call it
a girl, it seemed everything but human. It was as beautiful
as the tulip. The tune was coming out of this girl.
I stood there looking at this thing of beauty, and it stared
back.
for a few seconds we just stared at each other. I couldnt
move a muscle.
then, it talked.
"I've been waiting thus arrival".
"What? W..Wh..who are you?"
"You'll never really understand that question. I am what all
of mankind is looking for. I am the meaning. I am both
happiness and sadness".
I looked puzzled, trying to understand what this creature
was saying.
"Inside me there are the most beautiful things in the world:
kindness, happiness, caring, love, and also..."
I almost screamed. In less then a second, what was the most
beautiful things I ever saw turned to be the ugliest and
most horrible thing in the world. it looked like a big green
slug.
"Inside me you can see all the bad things - greed, sadness,
hypocrisy...Do you understand?"
I wish I could say I can, but I couldnt for two reasons:
first, It seemed that my mouth would never work again.
second, I didnt.


The creature became beautiful again.
"I am your reality. I am life as you choose to see me, and
anyone chooses to see me differently from the other. some
see only the tulip, some see only the slug. Some don't see
me at all. but I'm always here. Like I said, I've been
waiting for you."
I talked again. sort of.
"F..For me? WHy have you been waiting for me...?"
"Because you saw too much of the slug for so long, you're
losing hope. and without hope, you can never find the tulip.
I'm here to give you hope. The world has many flaws. We can
easily see only them. Lies, corruption and evil are
everywhere.
But we don't have to look at them. There is goodness in the
world, goodness hiding inside everyone. It is goodness
inside the small things - a parent giving his boy candy, a
couple kissing, a bird singing. Inside those small things
hides the tulip. Inside every person in the world there is a
tulip. And it is strong in you.
You should concentrate on these wonderful things, and the
bad things will look marginal, and slowly dissapear to you.

Love, Care, Be honest, and the most important thing, have
hope, and I'll always be here for you."
"I will...."
The creature came close to me, it was so beautiful and
smelled so sweet. It touched my face....
Then, the tune was loud again, and everything around me
became dizzy. At one point, I thought I'm passing out again,
but I didn't.
At once, I wasn't dizzy anymore. the tune was now soft and
silent, although still there. I was back in the garden, and
a beautiful sight crossed my eyes. The garden was now full
of beautiful tulips. birds were singing everywhere. A mother
gave her child a lollypop at one side of the garden. A
couple was busy kissing and loving at the other. I got up
and laughed and smiled, and I never stopped smiling since.
No matter what, I will always be happy. I knew  I found my
tulip. I hope you will too.