The Bad Jokes #1: The Redhead

Chapter 20: Hog-Tied

Peace.

I'd felt peaceful before in my life, but never before had I felt infused with peace, right down to the very atoms that made up every part of me. It was the most beautiful feeling in the world.

When I opened my eyes and looked around, I was surprised to find myself sitting on the grass by a stream that was quietly washing over the stones in its way. A small, arched wooden bridge spanned the width of the stream. Across from me, on the other side of the stream, were two houses, a good distance apart. In between both houses were a doe and her fawn, nibbling at some flowers that seemed to be everywhere.

I breathed in deeply, feeling as if even the air in this magical place was filled with peace. I wanted to bottle up this feeling and keep it with me always.

"You can," a soft, sweet voice said from beside me, making me jump.

"Don't be afraid," she told me, and as her face registered with me, her name slipped out of my mouth.

"Madame Angelina."

Her smile, like her voice, was as melodious as I recalled. "You remember me."

"Not likely to forget you. You knew things about the three of us that we didn't even know about each other. You were the first and only psychic we ever went to."

"Psychic."

"I met him, you know. You told me to wait for the man with the scar, and it took five years, but I finally met him."

You must wait, child. You must wait for the man with the scar. He is your future, not this boy, but you must wait for him no matter how long it takes to find him, no matter what obstacles you encounter with him.

"And was he worth the wait?" she asked.

I thought of everything about Xane that had made me fall in love with him. His strength. His integrity. His intelligence. His sweetness. His caring. His goodness.

"Very much so. Definitely. Like you said, there were some obstacles, but we worked through them."

"You love him, then."

"I do," I answered simply. "With all my heart."

"I'm so glad you chose to wait for him," she said. 

"I am, too." My eyes were focused on a bright red cardinal darting in front of us, alighting on the bridge railing.

"We are always faced with choices," she continued.

"I would agree," I said.

"You have a choice to make right now," she told me.

Turning back to her, I know my face was puzzled. "What choice?"

"Think about the last thing you remember, right before you found yourself sitting here."

My mind didn't want to focus on anything but this peace I was experiencing, but I thought hard and bits and pieces flashed by like quicksilver.

Dinner.

Bike ride.

Xane.

Condo.

Rixson.

Gun. 

Gun shot.

That came back. I remembered standing in my living room while Rixson had his gun pointed at Xane. Trying not to breathe, much less move so as not to upset Rixson, hoping Xane could reason with him. Get that gun away from him before anyone was hurt.