Puzzle

Hello?

Where am I?

What is this?

Why is everything white?

How do I get out of here?

Hello? Is anyone there?!

Is that a person? How lovely! It's been a long time since I talked to anyone.

...

What's wrong? You look lost. Maybe I can point you in the right direction.

I'm completely out of ideas.

When I try to create I feel empty.

I have nothing left to give to my work.

Wow, that sounds frustrating. Since it sounds like you think of yourself and your work as being the same thing. If you work suddenly started to feel empty, then I can see how you'd think of yourself as empty. That's rough.

Is this going to last forever?

Can I even feel good if I'm not creating?

Am I a bad person?

I’m not sure I have an answer for that. Maybe it’s internal. Did something change?

There was a machine that kept me going, and it stopped.

I'm trying to find this engine that used to protect me, to start it again.

Ah, now THAT I have the answer to. You're looking for a machine, right? I think I know where it is! It isn't far.

What?

You have to take me to it!

I need to see it, to know why it stopped.

I can take you to it, but there's a problem. It's guarded by a difficult puzzle. If you can help me solve the puzzle, we'll find the machine. Deal?

Deal.

~~It doesn't matter what I say, does it? We're going to end up there one way or another, right?~~ Deal.

Perfect. Come along, I'll show it to you.

Here's the puzzle. What do you think?

Hey, I recognize this!

I've solved this puzzle before!

This is easy!

Oh wonderful! Can you tell me how to do it?

First you have to remove the couch cushion.

First you have to remove the couch cushion.

Keep going.

You have to use the cushion to remove the book from the highest shelf.

You have to use the cushion to remove the book from the highest shelf.

I never thought of that before… Okay, now what?

Now you have to turn any lamps or light sources off.

Now you have to turn any lamps or light sources off.

I don't see how to turn it off.

In that case, break it.

In that case, give up.

In that case, ignore it.

Okay! Here we are!

What are you talking about?

There's no machine here.

These are just words on a screen.

Trust me, you'll see. You have to say that your work is fun and easy. You have to say that writing is simple and joyous and that you love it 100% of the time.

Okay... writing poems is simple.

Sure... writing poetry is easy.

Alright...being a writer is effortless.

Ahhh… that feels wonderful.

...but it wasn't true.

Why did bars just appear?

Why did I feel so awful when I said that?

Don't worry about it, just keep talking. Keep saying that creativity is easy.

When I write I feel completely energized.

I am constantly excited and enthusiastic about my work.

It is easy, it never stops being easy.

Yes, that's wonderful. Keep going.

Every time I make something I feel better about myself.

Just never stop creating and you'll never feel bad.

It's such a simple solution.

Perfect. That feels fantastic.

None of this is helping.

I'm going to vomit.

Please! Where is the machine!

Patience. You have to trust me. I promise this will work. Please, continue.

Pain breezes effortlessly off me.

Any sacrifices made for my work are worth it 100% of the time.

It always pays off eventually.

Yes. More. Keep going.

There is no shame, no fear, no guilt.

I will be saved by my work.

I believe this, unquestioningly. I am a vessel for certainty.

Incredible. That's it. I'm free.