Gateway

Gone Missing

Jason loves Marina and he plans to marry her, have a family with her someday. But with his condition he is hesitant since what if as a 'punotao' the reactions of the drugs he's been taking, his operations will have prolonged side effects. He can see that his skin color is changing. Their patients skin color has weirdly become purple and dark green like that of mollusks. Hmm....i wonder what will become of me, us, when the time comes?

Jason disappeared after his and Marina's engagement that night. Everyone in the laboratory hadn't have a clue where he went or what happened to him. One day a little girl came across a tree who sprang out of nowhere in front of the laboratory three years after Jason went missing. The tree looked so grand and handsome. The girl who is so happy running to hug the tree giggled when she saw it. Jessica, baby!? Where are you?, a woman's voice called out. Mommy! I am here!

Ah....don't run off like that again, I was worried. But who do we have here? Aha!, the woman added looking at the 20 foot tall tree standing in front of her.

Marina, I have a lead where Jason could have gone, this time, the GPS states it's in Malaysia!, one scientist said while Dr. Gates was playing with her daughter.

Jessica, don't go too far, daddy is maybe just around the corner to surprise you, so keep an eye on him for me, okay?, Marina cried smiling.

Yes, mommy! I will. Hmmm, haha, Jessica replied excited and ran up to the tree and finally hugged it like she always do every time she comes her to visit her mom's laboratory. Little did anyone know that it has a heart with initials J and M engraved in its back, the tattoo Jason has when Marina and him dated, ten years ago.

Jess, your mom wanted to stay near the lab so I did a couple of calls here and there for them to sell me the piece of land beside it. All are arranged and the construction will start as soon as possible.

Really, Brian, oh thank you!, Jessica said hugging her fiancé. They built a home beside the lab and an orange room where Marina stays is just a couple of feet near the lab and the handsome tree that is not so handsome anymore stood strong but leaves yellow and about to wither. Autumn is about to come and it's been thirty-five years since this tree whom Jessica called Jason appeared. No one until now knew how it grew and came to Gateway.

Marina is sound asleep in her room with orange colored walls, her window had blinds which she preferred since she could just easily tick a button to slide it up and down or open and close the plastic sheet lines just like the old times. Now all windows or doors are made out of thick glass. There are flying cars and cycles, busses or trucks in the sky. No one can remember how streets were assembled and like floating in the air sturdily. But Earth has many streets and bridges that has been built across which countries are interconnected and citizens from respective nations can already travel through cities just by walking, hiking or riding bikes or cars. Solar cars and vehicles are now in demand that fuel or gasoline are a second rate necessity. Heat wave still existed but since the homes or infrastructures are already hanging, floating in the clouds or air, breathing is thinner but air is cleaner and healthier. People seldom get sick and it's the most wonderful invention, idea, influencers such as author Vicky Manalo and climate defenders like Greta Thunberg and others fought to happen. A thick, green root extends to Marina's room. Trying to enter the window made out of glass, it can't find an entrance so the root tried to knock.

Marina, unconsciously ticked the button on the side of her bed though she's asleep, she just moved sideways and stretched her arm to do it. The window popped open and the blinds automatically moved upwards. The root moves in, it thinks for a second and sought to find someone. The root rested beside Marina. When Marina carefully and slowly moved to her other side of the bed facing the root, she hugs the thick, green root.

The living creature paused and touched Marina's cheek thus emitting a gold and powerful sweet smelling but pungent odor, that made the elderly woman smile.

"Jason, you remembered, Marina said still asleep. You came to pick me up, okay! I missed you!

The root nodded and touched Marina's cheek again. The elderly woman breathed again and the root seemed to catch the essence coming out of her and disappeared. The tree in front of the laboratory lost its leaves and withered.

Spring came and the tree grew again. But this time, it bloomed and now appeared to have a twin intertwined with 'Jason', the handsome tree Jessica called ever since she was a little girl. People say these trees are magical. So magical that they can heal illnesses and aches or body pains every time one sick person touches them. In the long run, others, here sayers, called the trees, 'twin flames'. Indeed, the trees are magical because of love, because of the undying affection of the couple, Jason and Marina, nature, earth, get to taste the sweet, honest and kind generosity of the lovers, we in the world, get healed and become healthy, again.

Remember when I told you that Gateway 1 will be the ultimate masterpiece?, I am Jason Fort and now I am with my daughter and wife Marina in the future. You thought I died but no, as a 'punotao' I used the system and generated my being as a tree and lived in another world as a human with my family. How's this possible? It is indeed true and no longer a theory that we have many worlds just like earth and I am living my best life in my earth and my own world with my loves now....Want to try it with me? Maybe after billions of light years you can? See you then my friend!