The Choice

The train station

After we returned home, life went back to "normal". My siblings had school, and I had to work. To keep an eye on them, I chose a hospital near their school—so we could take the train together, and I could sneak in extra time with them.

Today seemed ordinary...at least, that's what I thought.

Susan and I were lingering at a newspaper stand, each lost in our own thoughts, when a boy appeared out of nowhere. Funny-looking, with glasses slipping down his nose and a hat that refused to sit straight. Susan tensed immediately, clearly wanting nothing to do with him—but he didn't take the hint. He just...kept talking. And talking. And talking.

I wasn't listening—until he asked, "What's your name?"

To my horror, Susan answered, "Phyllis."

Really, Susan? Phyllis? Couldn't you have picked something better?

Before I could comment, a voice shouted: "Maria! Susan! Come quickly!"

"Saved by the bell," I muttered under my breath. Susan and I shot each other a knowing look and ran.

At the train station, chaos. Peter was in the middle of a fight with a couple of guys. My mind immediately jumped:

What did he do this time? This kid seriously needed yoga or a stress ball—anything really.

Then Lucy screamed; "Edmund!"

"You're kidding me," I groaned.

Edmaund charged to help Peter, but both were getting hammered. I couldn't watch any longer. I ran up to the boy hitting Peter and smacked that obnoxious grin right off his face.

One down, only a couple more to go.

The next attacker moved toward Edmund. "Don't even think about it," I said, kneed him, and stepped back.

Then—pain. A punch across my face, and suddenly the cold ground was under me. Peter was there instantly, his fists flying. "No one lays a finger on my sister. Anyone who does is suicidal," he growled, landing a solid hit to the guy's stomach.

I barely noticed the officers whistling until they pulled Peter off. "Act your age!" One scolded.

Peter helped me to my feet, brushing at my lip. "You okay?"

"I'm good," I lied. He knew better but let it go.

"Thanks...me and Ed would've been mashed potatoes without your help."

"Anything for my brothers." I grinned and ruffled his hair.

We settled onto a bench, waiting for our train. Susan frowned. "What happened this time?"

Peter looked calm. "He bumped me."

"So you hit him?!" Lucy gasped.

"No," Peter said, unfazed. "They tried to make me apologize. That's when I hit back."

Susan groaned. "Why is it so hard just to walk away?"

Peter's jaw tightened. "I shouldn't have to. Don't you ever get tired of being treated like a child?"

"Um...we are kids," Edmund snorted.

"I wasn't always," Peter shot back.

Here we go again...

"It's been a year," he continued. "How long does he expect us to wait?"

"Who?" I asked, ignored as usual.

Susan sighed, "Time to accept that we live here. No use pretending otherwise."

"Okay, enough!" I snapped. "What the hell did that professor give you—weed?!"

Before they could answer, Lucy screamed. Something had pinched her.

"Quiet, Lu," Susan hushed. I thought she was joking—until Peter started yelling at Peter to stop pulling.

"Look, would all of you just—What is that?" Susan's voice cracked.

Then the walls began peeling away.

"Magic!" Lucy shouted, grinning.

Dude. I'm related to crackheads...but they were right. This isn't normal.

Following Susan's suggestion, we held hands. I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second. When I opened them, we were in a cave.

"What the fu—" I started before Susan interrupted. "Language!"

Am I...high or something?

Lucy's cocky smile didn't help. "Maria, do you believe in this Narnia stuff now?"

"I...I don't know. I need time to process."

Something in my stomach fluttered. This place felt...like home. Even though I had never been her before.