Thank you to Bryana Ellery, who responded to the 1,000 Words feature in the January issue of Writing. Hope you enjoy reading her creative response to this very funny picture.

There was no evidence of me being there. Nothing but an empty clean chair, and a neat computer desk. I don't even know if anybody came looking for me. But I do know that I was lost in a game of a computer network and couldn't find my way out.

So this is the story about my journey through my own game. I could never imagine it more realistic than it was that day.

It was June 3, 2007 and I had been playing that game until almost 1:30 in the morning. I had about four cups of coffee to keep me awake. I was so desperate to beat that game. But by whatever time it was, something went completely wrong.

As hard as I tried to stop playing that game, and as hard as I tried to close my eyes to get detached from that game, it wouldn't let me go ahead. With my head was still turned toward the screen and eyes still wide open, I was sucked into the game, and literally shifted into another world.

When I landed flat, splat on my back on virtual grass, I heard a loud voice say "LEVEL 1."

At that moment, I knew I had to beat the game to get out. So I stood up, and looked around. But suddenly a bunch of monkeys started running toward me and I didn't know what to do. I ran as fast as I could until I saw something shiny in the distance. Once I picked it up, I realized it was a sword that I had to use to get the monkeys off my back.

After I fought the monkeys, my points started racking up. Then next to me a cool black convertible showed up. I thought back to when I was playing it in the real world, about how I beat the level. I finally knew what I had to do. So I drove to the top of the mountain to reach the exit door. It wasn't that easy though, even more monkeys latched onto the car and made it really hard to drive. I even almost fell off a cliff. I made it out okay, "It's only the first level, piece of cake," I told myself.

"Level 2," the deep voice said as I entered the next level. Standing up right in front of me was a huge, ugly, one-eyed Cyclops. Horrified, I ran and tried to hide. It almost got me, but I hit it with my sword. I hit it again knowing that every time I did, it lost a life. I finally killed the Cyclops, but then three more showed up and I almost passed out. Next thing I knew, I was flying through the air heading for a brick wall. It hurt like crazy, but luckily I had two lives left.

I found an energy coin that gave me strength to grow bigger. I grew as tall as the Cyclops. Then I beat them all. I jumped up and dpwn at the feeling of victory.

As I was heading to Level 3, I heard a horrible shrill noise. All of a sudden the game was over! Drifting back into reality, I woke up slowly. Slammed my alarm clock on the floor. Looked up at the computer with the bright green flashing words that said, "GAME OVER." I must have fallen asleep while playing the game. I can't believe I lost, and that it was only a dream that took me to such an adventurous place in my mind.