The Ticket and the Choice

Long ago, in a village like any other, life was simple yet extraordinary. The people lived in joy and harmony, deeply connected to one another and the world around them. It was a place of peace, where life flowed effortlessly, like a quiet, eternal stream.

One day, something new arrived — a Cinema. The villagers were thrilled and curious, eager to explore what this strange building had to offer. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary theater, but there was something special about this Cinema. Some might even say it was magical.

The movies it showed weren’t like the ones you might imagine. These films weren’t just watched — they were experienced. As the lights dimmed and the screens flickered to life, the audience found themselves immersed in the stories, feeling every emotion, every adventure, every heartbreak as if it were their own. The Cinema seemed infinite, with countless rooms projecting an endless variety of movies. The villagers were mesmerized.

At first, people visited the Cinema occasionally, just to watch a movie or two. But as time passed, they started spending more and more time there. Some villagers found themselves drawn to the rooms with joyous, adventurous films. Others preferred stories filled with drama, sorrow, or fear. Eventually, the entire village moved inside the Cinema, captivated by the experiences it offered. Over time, it became their new home.

Generations were born within the Cinema. For these children, life outside its walls was nothing more than a vague story told by their parents and grandparents. The only reality they knew was the one created by the movies they watched. The rooms became more elaborate, the screens grew larger, and the stories grew more vivid. Life inside the Cinema was all-consuming.

As little Juan grew up in the Cinema, he noticed something peculiar. Although there were rooms projecting joyful, exciting films, most people gathered in the darker ones. Rooms filled with pain, struggle, and drama were always crowded, while the joyous ones were almost empty. Juan loved the colorful, adventurous movies, where he could laugh, dream, and feel free. But the older he got, the lonelier those rooms became.

Sometimes, when he tried to tell his family about the beautiful movies he’d seen, they dismissed him. “You’re too dreamy,” they’d say. “Life isn’t like that. You need to be realistic.” Even his friends would roll their eyes or laugh at his idealism. Over time, Juan started to wonder if they were right. Was he naïve to believe in something brighter?

Other times, he was amazed by how fiercely people defended the movies they loved. They argued over plotlines, characters, and endings as if their lives depended on them. People grew angry when someone disagreed about a movie, as though the stories they watched were the only truth that existed.

One day, after stepping out of a particularly gripping movie, Juan wandered the endless corridors of the Cinema. For the first time, he found himself alone. The usual noise of conversations and movie soundtracks faded, leaving only silence. In the stillness, he felt something stir deep within — a whisper, not heard with his ears but felt in his heart. It wasn’t a voice exactly, more like a knowing…

What if there’s something beyond these walls?

The thought filled him with excitement but also fear. What if he was wrong? What if there was nothing else? He closed his eyes, letting the waves of doubt and insecurity wash over him. Slowly, he felt those emotions pass, leaving only a quiet calm. With his eyes still closed, he stood up and began to walk.

A light appeared in the distance, faint at first but growing brighter as he moved toward it. The corridors became unfamiliar, yet there was something comforting about them, like a distant memory he couldn’t quite place. The light grew stronger, warmer, filling him with a deep sense of peace.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing at the exit of the Cinema. For the first time, he saw it from the outside. The building seemed smaller now, almost insignificant compared to the vast world stretching out before him. The air outside felt fresher, the light purer, the colors brighter. The sounds of birds and the rustle of the wind felt more alive than anything he’d experienced in the Cinema. He savored the moment — the taste of freedom, of love, of endless possibility.

As he stood there, he reached into his pocket and found something: a Cinema ticket. He stared at it, realizing it was for a movie he hadn’t chosen, a story he’d never asked to watch. Without hesitation, he let it go. The wind caught the ticket, carrying it far away, until it disappeared into the sky.

Juan turned back to the Cinema, knowing he had a choice. He could go back inside, returning to the familiar stories that had shaped his reality for so long…Or he could step into this new, boundless world, where he could co-create his own story…

For the first time in his life, Juan felt truly free. Now, he had a choice…