Usurped

Chapter 3

I shoved the message aside and returned to my friends, forcing a grin as daylight waned. We plunged into the day-swinging clubs on the green, decking Damien out in a ridiculous stag outfit, and diving into whatever else kept laughter ringing in the air.

As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, we retreated indoors, gathering in our softly lit room. The sound of glasses clinking and bottles popping signalled the beginning of a night rich with laughter and heartfelt exchanges.

"To the bride and groom," Friedrich proclaimed, raising his glass in a toast. I managed only half my drink, the words still echoing in my mind.

"It's good to have the boys together," Damien added. "I wonder what Christine and her crew are up to."

Trevor, after a sip of his red wine, smirked knowingly. "If I know Christine, they're having a blast tonight."

Laughter echoed, mingling with the deep notes of fine wine. Plates lay abandoned across the table, remnants of the night scattered in their wake. At some point, I found my way to bed; the moment my back hit the sheets, my eyes surrendered to the darkness.

I felt myself slipping into the depths, pulled toward a darkness filled with murmurs whose meanings eluded me.

When my eyes finally opened, sunlight spilled gently over me, bringing a warmth that felt like home. I turned onto my side, expecting the familiar weight of my bed-only to feel the tickle of grass. My eyes flew open, and I found myself lying beneath a towering oak, one that seemed strangely familiar.

I jolted upright, heart racing, and spotted a piece of paper beside me. Leaning closer, I unfolded it, revealing the words: "Welcome back. You've been gone a long time." The delicate script reminded me of my mother's handwriting, crafted with a fountain pen-familiar yet haunting, a ghost of the woman she used to be.

As I finished reading, a voice pierced the silence, sending chills down my spine. "Ben?" He turned to find sapphire blue eyes locking onto his, framed by curly red hair that danced with the gentle breeze, creating an eerie, captivating presence.

She wore a striking outfit unfamiliar to him, standing on the grassy hillside, her silhouette bold against the sprawling fields-a vibrant figure in scarlet. Below her, an old village lay shrouded in morning mist, its chimneys exhaling thin plumes of smoke into the crisp air.

The woman's dress, a deep red that glimmered like embers, swirled around her ankles with every gust of wind, a vivid contrast to the muted greens and greys of the landscape. Lace-trimmed sleeves hugged her arms, and the fitted bodice evoked the elegance of a bygone era, as if she had emerged from the pages of a forgotten tale.

"Mom?" he breathed, his voice barely rising above a whisper. "Is that really you?"

Her sweet, gentle tone answered, "I've been looking for you all morning. I didn't realize you'd come here."

"Mom?" he repeated, feeling an irresistible pull towards her. As he stepped closer, she enveloped him in a warm embrace, and he noted he had grown taller than her by a few inches. "How is this happening? How-?"

"You're a grown man now," she said, tapping his back with a reassuring touch. "Let's savour this moment while it lasts."