East of Elpida is engulfed in darkness. A place where man’s inner evil is exposed through their thoughts and actions. Walking the eerie, dimly lit, under-maintained walkways, I can feel the air thickening. With each step I take, a gloomy aura can be felt emitting from the presence of the neglected people. I can feel the pieces of glass breaking underneath my feet with each step I take. I see people who are impoverished, sitting on broken sidewalks in front of their squatter settlements, made from cheap materials like corrugated metal, cardboard and rotting wooden planks. These are the people lost in limbo, trying to find a way out, living in the darkness of Elpida. No one is there to guide them to the light, not even themselves. I too am lost, disoriented and purposeless. A sense of despair starts taking over my body as I try to walk away, frightened of what is coming next. I see a man who doesn’t belong here (a man in my sub-consciousness), “Is this the end of Elpida?”, the man replied, “no, there is light beyond this darkness. The light is the knowledge one gains through exploring and overcoming the darkness. In the shadows of the dark and uninviting alleyways lies an alternate reality, a glimmer of hope - the future of the city.”

As I continue my pilgrimage to find the city of light, the journey culminates to the other half of the Elpida. Peering at the never-ending alleyway, there are faint lights in a distance. As I approach the end, I see life like I have never before. Happiness in the faces of people. I can finally breathe in the fresh air as I walk on the cobblestoned sidewalks. I see tall buildings made of brick and glass with intricate ornamental details as well as historical buildings juxtaposed with modern structures. I see a new city full of technological advancements and sustainable lifestyles, a city in which darkness is an experience of the past. This gives me hope and a new purpose in life. For the first time I aim to see myself succeed and to live up to the expectations of Elpida.

The city of Elpida is a journey moulded by light and dark, and the light is not always the future. The aim of its citizens is not merely to replace the dark with something brighter, but rather there are many paths to follow and that comes from experiences and individualism of hopes and dreams, of thoughts and actions. Those brave enough to choose to take the journey will have profound implications of how one experiences Elpida.