Random Encounters: Home

Sour Grape

Nate hobbles through the vineyard, eating grapes off of the vines. He looks around at the sky, the midday sun beating down on him. Beads of sweat fall down his forehead as he staggers forward. A person with long, cinnamon hair walks alongside him. They're wearing a midnight blue evening gown that sparkles when the sun hits it just right.

"What are you all gussied up for?" He grumbles.

"My sister just got married," for the first time, the voice doesn't fluctuate, and is instead feminine, "I thought I'd celebrate."

Nate scans them and shrugs his shoulders.

"Also," they stop walking, "I wanted to say goodbye to you."

Nate stops as well, facing them, "Are you leaving?"

They shake their head, "No, I'm staying here a bit longer. You're the one who's leaving."

Nate looks up, confused. He couldn't fathom how this was possible unless... A smile grows on the person's face, tears forming in their eyes.

"They found a way," their voice quivers.

Nate's eyes begin to sting as across the vineyard, a whirlpool begins spinning, a beam of light shooting through it. The person takes off their long, white gloves, wiping tears from their eyes.

"Go home, be happy," they tell him.

"Come with me, we can go back together," Nate offers, "I can help you!"

The person shakes their head, running their hand against his face softly.

"I can't go with you, I'm sorry," they say softly, tears running down their cheeks.

Nate looks over his shoulder at the portal then back at his friend. His breathing becomes faster as he realizes what they're saying.

"No, no, no, no, no," he repeats the word, "No, you have to come with me. I won't leave you here."

The world around them begins to wilt and die. Nate shakes his head vigorously, not ready to let go of the only person he's had for the past month.

"You need to go, now," the person commands, pulling away, averting their blue eyes from Nate.

Nate doesn't want to go, he wants to hold onto them. But the wind blows, blowing the person to dust. Nate's eyes grow wide in confusion, he looks over his shoulder at the portal that's beginning to close. Forgetting about his friend, he turns on his heels, running through the pain towards his exit ticket. The wilted grape vines begin to wrap around his legs and ankles. They attack him viciously, preventing his escape. He yelps as the vines pull him to the ground, dragging him back to the wasteland called Dimension 13.

He tries to kick the vines off of his legs, but it's no use, he's getting farther and farther away from the already closing portal. He flips himself over onto his stomach, digging his fingernails into the ground. He begins dragging himself across the ground. Slowly, he makes progress, fighting the force that's begging, pleading him to stay. As he inches closer and closer, he can feel a wave of relief washing over him. The vines recoil at the portal as it sucks their victim in. For once, in a while, Nate feels calm, serene, he's going home.