Blink Once, Blink Twice, I'm Gone

Victorian England, 1864

I sleep in the forest. My house against the mountain. I am in the year of 2012; the present. Eyes stay closed. Enjoy the sun on my face. Forget everything that happened the other day. The birds chirp in the bright green foliage. The sun shines, uninterrupted by flying cotton balls. I smile.

                “Adelina, lunch is ready.” I get up from my rope hammock. I keep my eyes closed. My head feels dizzy as the blood rushes to my brain. I walk ten flat steps to my back door way. I enter, find table, and sit down. Clang. A plate lands in front of me, no other clang. I open my eyes.

                A turkey sandwich with lettuce and mayo sits in front of me. I grab it, take a bite. The crisp lettuce counters the cold turkey and mayo with the soft, toasted, sour dough bread. My mom always made the best turkey sandwiches. I close my eyes in enjoyment. I thank my mom and take another bite. Open eyes.

                The TV whispers in the next room. I move my spot. A reporter is at a scene in New York. A man’s bones were just found in the rubble of 9/11. The police have done a test and confirmed who the man was.

                “The bones of Fire Sergeant Matthew Halloway have just been found in the clearing.” My jaw drops open. Shock slaps me in the face. I blink to see if it was real. Blink.

I walk along with a man. My hands feel numb from low circulation. My hair weighs down my head. I look down and can’t even see my feet. A huge dress hangs down on me. I look to the man, I don’t recognize him but he looks familiar. I stop abruptly. I close my eyes. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Open.

“Are you okay, Madam Halloway.” The man asks. How does he know my name? Where am I?

“I’m sorry but where am I again, I forgot our destination.” I ask in a very heavy British accent. Where did that come from?

“Do your house Madam.” The man replies. I pretend to remember and reply with a “yes.” We keep walking. I do a double blink, staying where I am.

We finally reach a large flat at the center of the city. The man unlocks the door and holds it open for me. Blink.

                I am in my room. Posters of bands and funny quotes cover every inch of my walls except where my black board is. It has my favorite quote up there. If you can’t convince them, confuse them. My motto, my thing to go by. A knock comes in from the front door. I peer around the stairs. Alex is there.

                I hide in my room. I shut and lock the door. I blare my iPod. I look in the mirror. A stranger looks back at me with a red nest of fire on top of her head. Her eyes are grey with streaks on blue, like a petal of a blue and grey flower. Her loose clothing sags on her thin frame.

                I grab my brush at assault my hair with it, making it strait. When that is done, I French braid it into a side braid. I change into a black tank top and short shorts. I apply a thin amount of black eye liner to make my eyes pop a little more. I put on my chain necklace that I got from my father when I was little. It has a train spike at the end of it which reminds me of all the times we went on trains.

                There is a knock at the door. Double blink. I mute my music.

                “What?” I ask the person on the other side of the door as I stuff my pajamas into the hamper. Click. Wink left, wink right. The door knob twist and a figure enters my room. I sit on my bed, playing with my necklace.

                “Next time I will break down your door.” A somewhat deep voice answers. I look up and my heart does a little flip. Alex stands in my room. He flings himself on to my bed, lying face up next to me. His black hair covers his face from the flight. Double blink. He wears his normal darker clothes with black jeans and a My Chemical Romance Shirt. He wears his normal chain with a skull at the end necklace.

                “I told you not to pick my lock. You’re getting good at it you know. That scares me.” I tease him. Double blink. I glance his way, trying to be discreet but epically fail. He is leaning up on his elbows, looking at me. I close my eyes for ten seconds. I wasn’t going to miss this time I have with him by traveling.

                “Too late. Ready to go?” He gets up and starts playing with my iPod. I do a double blink and watch him. His fingers start to twiddle with the pop up key board to get my password. “Guessed your password. Got it right. Wow I am amazing.”

                “Come on. And stop doing that. You just love breaking into my things, don’t you.” I slip on my flats and leave. He follows all hyper like behind me. I can’t help but giggle.

                “What?”

                “You just can’t keep still can you?” I tease him. I head out the front door but a bright light blinds me. Blink.

                “Damn it!” I exclaim. Open eyes. The room is filled with people. My dress chokes me. Step, avoid, step, avoid. People dance around me. I find the food. A man watches me. A white mask covers the skin around his eyes. He looks familiar. Step, step, step over to him.

                “Good evening, Madam Halloway. Can I have this dance.” The man holds out his hand.

                My brain takes over, “You must certainly will.” I place my gloved hand in his. I feel feathers tickle my skin around my eyes. Twist and twirl. Flowing colors. Fiddles sing and bases thump. I let the music take over. I close my eyes. Open them. Same scene. I smile. I continue to dance. Children run. I try to dodge. Trip. Fall. Blink.

                We sit by the tree. Looking out into the lake. I through pebbles against the saplings in to the lake. The sun’s fingers skim my legs and face. I look over. Alex’s eyes are closed, a smile on his face. I lean against his shoulder. I watch the sun flare up the sky. My knees feel sore. I sit there, enjoying the moment. Never wanting to move. I drift to sleep.

                I imagine things but never dream. Under the eye lids, I watch my adventures to different times. Blink.