SPASE

SPASE: CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Maddie falls to their knees and sobs.

You alright, sugar? Reynolds relays. He sits at Maddie's side, leaning against their bent legs in a show of support. You know, I am right here for you, love.

Maddie's eyes fix on the empty space between the sunflowers where they last saw Nick.

"Of course, Nick gets to walk away free of any consequences," Maddie proclaims, still crying.

His actions are not without consequence, love. You know that and I shouldn't have to tell you. He didn't transition. He's stuck here, remember?

"He's not ready, is he? I don't think that I could even help him if I wanted to," Maddie admits. "How much time is he going to need? What happens if I go back and he's still stuck here?"

There is a long silence. One could hear a pin drop. Crickets began to chirp in the distance. Reynolds doesn't know what to say or how to respond. Maddie is left to their own thoughts. Both Maddie and Reynolds know the answers to Maddie's questions.

Nick needs time, love. He needs time to learn how to treat others and how to stand on his own. In reality, he doesn't have the best self-confidence, you know?

Maddie turns to Reynolds. They squint their eyes at Reynolds, not believing the thoughts that he's relaying.

"There is no way in hell that he needs time to find confidence in himself. He's the cockiest son of a bitch I know!"

What's with the mouth? Mind your tongue, love. Our journey is almost over. Enough of the frustration, darlin', Reynolds reminds Maddie.

Maddie flusters and lets out a huff through their nose like a bull who's ready to charge. After a moment of silence, they sigh and look at their black boots. At the beginning of their journey in Spase, they were new, shiny even. Now, their scuffed boots show signs of a long, rough journey taken.

"I'm not sure how I feel. I'm happy that I helped those that needed it. I feel a sense of peace, relief, excitement. I loved helping, but I'm sad. Sad for Nick. Sad for those still stuck," Maddie admits.

Let's take a walk, Reynolds offers and they begin to stroll through the sunflowers.

The sunflowers and fresh grass leave the air smelling fresh. Maddie inhales and exhales deeply, making sure to savor every moment and every feeling of Spase. Something is different, better, lifted off of their shoulders. They are lighter, but they don't know why.

"What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Maddie asks. "I can tell when you wanna talk to me about something but you're holding back."

You have a decision to make, Reynolds relays.

Maddie stops and turns to face Reynolds. They hang onto one of the tallest flowers, towering ten feet tall, standing there in all of its glory.

"What do you mean I have a decision to make?"

If you want to stay or not.

"Oh... that decision. I didn't even know that I could choose," says Maddie.

You can always choose. You had some lessons to learn, mostly about yourself. You needed to see what you could do. You needed to believe in yourself and rise up to who you were meant to become. You've always been who you are, darlin', you just needed to realize it and learn to accept and love it is all, Reyn relays.

"Wait, so I always had the power to wake up, like back in reality?"

What's reality really though? You act like Spase isn't real, Reynolds says, kind of taking offense.

Maddie let out a sigh. "No, I know Spase is real. What I meant to ask was if I could always go home, back to Iowa. Back to Melissa, school, and, well, Earth?"

Yes, you could. You just needed to help people and realize your full potential to be able to.

Maddie nods their head and they begin to walk again.

Reynolds whimpers. So, your time is closing here. You need to make a decision. Do you want to stay to help others transition or would you like to go back... go away to school, fall in love, get married, all of the happiness and sadness that life has to offer?

"I feel like you're trying to persuade me to go back," Maddie chuckles.

That isn't my intention. I just want to make sure that you realize what you are giving up by staying here for good. Like I said in the beginning, Momma had the opportunity to complete the Final Transition, but she kept choosing to go back to experience a new life and learn more. That learning ultimately made her a better soul.

Maddie's mind finds all of the souls still stuck in Spase and feels panicked. A lump forms in their throat, making them rethink what going back to Earth would do to every soul in Spase.

"What about the others? If I go back, they can't transition. What will happen to them?"

There's the Momma in you. You always choose others' happiness over your own, Reynolds admits. This isn't the only opportunity that you'll have to help people, love. You're always going to help people, whether it is here in Spase or back on Earth. You'll find that when you're ready, you can come back and help more people transition. You're always going to have that ability. There will be others. Other Guides that will come and go, just like you. Don't fret, sunflower. There's always a way when souls are willing and ready to learn. Who knows, we might end up calling you again to help us.

"And Nick?" Maddie questions.

He'll find his way when he's ready.

Reynolds walks slow, sliding almost like a snake, weaving in and out of the tallest of flowers. Maddie stops and watches him. They see how he has gotten slower along their journey. They could not have done it without him by their side. In this realization, they are thankful for him and his presence.

"Reyn," Maddie calls. "What about you? I feel bound to Spase. How am I supposed to go back without you? You're my best friend. If I have realized anything here, it's that you make me a better person. You make me see clearly. I can't go back without you."

Maddie starts to cry. Not tear up, not just get choked up, but cry harder than they have the entire time that they have been in Spase.

You've noticed that I'm getting slower, sunflower, Reynolds relays. It's almost my time.

"Time for what?"

Time for me to go.

"Go?" Maddie screams. "Go where?"

Reynolds stops, turns, and sits in front of Maddie, screeching them to a halt.

It's time for me to make the Final Transition. To become a star amongst the other stars. To run again. To see Momma. It's my time, honey.

Maddie takes a few steps back from Reynolds, holding out their hands in front of them. They shake; their hands, arms, and head. Every part of them shakes.

"But, you can't! I need you!" Maddie whimpers.

Reynold stands still. I have waited forever for you to come to Spase. I knew you'd come and I knew you'd be the Guide. I knew that you would succeed. I knew that you were the hero that we were waiting for... the hero that I was waiting for. I've done my duty here in this life. Momma commanded me to wait here for you and asked me to guide you here in Spase, making sure that you were safe and found how truly remarkable you are. We made it, sugar. You made it.

Maddie drops to their knees, again, unable to move. Planted deep in the ground, their knees would not budge. Their hands cover their eyes. Reynolds slowly walks to them, limping on his back left leg. Tired, he nudges his snout between their fingers and begins to lick their face.

"I'm not ready to be on my own," Maddie says through the sobs. "I can't do it without you."

You won't be without a guide for long. I promise to always be with you. I love you, sunflower.

As his face touches theirs, they both fade into a white mist.

Different beings going to different destinations; one, back to their life on Earth and one to run amongst the stars.