Lost In Time

Prologue

Prologue

The sun is shining through a canopy of trees, while a river gurgles nearby, and leaves dance in circles. The river turns into flames made of crystal as the sun shines directly on it, creating a wall that reaches the trees trying to escape the circle of grassy walls that surrounds them. There's a sound of laughter, one deep and musical, like brass, and the other is high, like wind chimes. At the bottom of the glade there is a tall, wrinkled body that is bending over a smaller figure that is sitting on the grass gazing in awe up at the white crystal flames in front of her. The towering body helps the small figure up and grabs something from the grass. The golden head of the small figure catches the glare of the sun revealing a young girl. As the two walk up the grassy slopes to the top the small figure stops and looks back, disappointment etched in her face, sad that the beautiful scene is gone. She turns her back on the scene and together they walk away without looking back.

Suddenly at the sound of a twig snapping, the small figure stops to peer around for the source. When she sees nothing there she quickly turns around and runs to catch up with the tall, and skinny figure ahead of her. The silence is broken by the sounds of a gun going off and tree trunks are being blown apart. A scream escapes the girls' mouth as she gets pelted with pieces of tree bark, and the big figure yells at her to run for the house. She takes off running as fast as she can as she dodges gunfire and bark. She suddenly stops and turns around. The big figure had fallen and the firing creases abruptly. The girl runs and slides down next to the fallen man, lightly lifts his head so she can turn his body around, so that she can lay his head in her lap. She tips her head back to look up at the white, fierily, dots and cries. She sits there crying for what feels like forever, when finally her tears run out. She slowly stands up to bend down and wraps her arms around his muscular shoulders. Slowly, painfully, she drags the man to the edge of the trees, while the cuts on her arms and legs burn like they are on fire.

When she reaches the edge of the trees, she looks up to find the beautiful white crystal flames blocking her path. She reaches her hand forward and touches the flames, but he doesn't jerk back, because the flames feels cool against her burning flesh. She takes a deep breath and steps into the white light.

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A sudden bird call rushes me back to the present and I realized that I had stopped walking. With a jolt I realize that I am doubled over clutching my chest while gasping for breath, and I realize that I had been so caught up in the memory that I was running like I did in the memory. I sit down and try to get my bearings as I catch my breath. I spot the tree that my Grandpa had tied a red piece of cloth to, so that I could find my way to the glade without him if I ever had to. I also remember that the reason why I'm there is because tomorrow is the anniversary of when he died. Every year on the day that he died all there is a family reunion for him with all my relatives. Every year the day before we go I go to the glade and leave something special in one of the trees. When I get to the glade I find a good tree branch that is close to the ground and I tie a wooden bird house that I made myself in school. I had made a vow that I would come here the day before the anniversary and hang one up in a tree.

When I'm done I jump back across the river and lay down where I had that fateful night, and I count down from five. When I get to two I sit up to watch the river and just like that evening the river is lit on fire. I stay a little longer than I planned, but I leave two minutes before the sun will no longer be shining directly on the river. I sprint for the tree line not wanting to be in the woods after dark.