River Dreams

Fragments

CHAPTER TEN

Fragments

It feels as if my entire existence has been made up of fragments. Small, beautiful fragments that have been thrown across a table like a pieces of a puzzle, they're waiting to be put back together. These instances flash by with different emotions, different times, and circumstances. That's life, isn't it? Fragments, instances, and lifetimes all pushed together.

Yet I can't help but think that my life seemed to consist of something more than those three factors, thanks to River.

At least that's what I'm saying to myself as River drives me towards our town's nature reserve. I hadn't been there for ages, despite the special place it holds in my heart, I hadn't found the time to go.

"Opal's Kingdom" is a small nature reserve at the edge of town. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of untouched nature. its plots of earth are filled with tall winding trees whose branches create a sort of roof or canopy.

The trees cover the sky only letting the smallest of sunlit rays to escape their dense branches. Each and every leaf stands out amidst the shadows they create. The rays of light create the illusion of stars cluttering the ground making it feel as if you were floating through space, dancing upon your own nebula.

The name "Opal's Kingdom" came from a young girl named Opal who had asked her father if magical kingdoms really existed. He had taken her to this piece of land and told her that yes, magic exists everywhere, yet sometimes it stays hidden.

Or at least that's the story it says on the bronze plate outside of the nature path. Nevertheless, I know my life, my fragments, my thoughts, they're mere stars in a vast expanse of galaxies.

"Have you been here before," River said staring out the car window.

I nodded, "why are we here anyway?" I asked pulling off my wool sweater.

"I don't know... Maybe we went together, as kids I mean. I thought it would be a cool place to talk" he said as he looked towards me.

"I hope so," I said.

I pushed open the door and stepped out of the car, my skin prickling under the crisp sunlight. I took in a deep breath as I patiently waited for River.

"C'mon," River said, walking past me.

We walked on, my thoughts ambushing me in the silence of my mind. Suddenly the idea of understanding everything made everything seem easier, as if I could finally start looking for the solution. I could rebuild.

River was quiet, quiet enough to hear his short breaths echo in the dark tunnel the trees created.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.

I shook my head, "It was something I saw in the memory,"

"What happened?"

"I saw my mom and dad," I said, surprised how I felt when I spoke of them.

"Did they say anything?"

"Dream Walker, that's what my mother said," I sighed, "What's that supposed to mean?"

River turned towards me and shook his head, making strands of hair fall into his eyes and cast a shadow across his cheek. It was as if snakes were trailing down his jaw and towards the crook of his neck.

"You mentioned that before, the Dream Walker thing,"

"I know but I still have no idea where it's coming from and why she said it," I whispered, staring down at the speckles of light dancing across the surface of my palms.