The Cave

There were two rules Gretchen must adhere to when exploring the wilderness. Number one, she must be home for dinner. And number two, she mustn't walk further than a mile into the forest. There was a tree with a red rope tied round it that Gretchen's parents used as a marker.

Barty, Gretchen's best friend and closest neighbor, came over almost every day. Like all children, they loved to have adventures and test the limits. Each time they ventured into the forest, they traveled further than the last.

Gretchen followed Barty as they trekked east, well beyond the red rope. They came upon a large and long rock wall. They walked along it until they discovered the mouth of a cave.

"Let's go in." Barty said.

"Uh-uh. They're might be something in there."

"Like treasure." Barty grinned.

"Or a beast!"

"There aren't beasts here. Don't you think we would've seen one by now?"

"I don't know." Gretchen shook her head.

"I'll go first to make sure it's safe." Barty crept into the cave.

Gretchen stood out front fidgeting. She looked around and back at the cave. It was completely dark.

"Barty?" She called.

She heard nothing.

"Barty!" Her voice traveled down the tunnel and echoed, "Barty-ty-ty-ty!"

Gretchen paced in front of the cave. She took a deep breath. And entered.

As she stepped into the cave, Gretchen walked onto a stage and approached a podium. An audience of teenagers, wearing blue square caps on their heads, gawked at her. Barty was among them. He looked straight at her with that familiar grin.

Gretchen realized, she wore a similar blue dressing gown with a square cap on her head. She looked at the audience, leaned into the microphone and said, "Congratulations."

The moment she walked off stage, she walked onto a dance floor. She was inside a ballroom dimmed with chandeliers and lit candles. The robe was gone; a lacy white dress was in its place.

Barty held her hand and lead her in a waltz. He looked different but his smile was just the same. They twirled and dipped. And he leaned in for a kiss.

As he pulled away, the surroundings changed once again. She was in hospital bed. Barty stood beside her, holding her hand. A nurse handed her an infant wrapped in a blanket. The baby was theirs. Gretchen closed her eyes flooded with tears.

When she opened them, they were home. Back in the country. The three of them sat in front of a fire. "I love you." Their daughter said.

She was bigger but fit perfectly in between them. Gretchen looked at Barty and felt a love greater than she ever imagined.

It was magic, Gretchen thought before she came to. She was in the cave, lying on her back, unable to feel her limbs. She gurgled and choked as she fought for air. All she could see was the rock ceiling above her. And one last image - the large jaw of the beast.