The Phoenix Girl

11. The Enchantment

Campsis had woken up, the fresh, warm air blowing in her face. Confused, she stood up, and the scene took her breath away. She was standing in the middle of a spacious, beautiful garden. The fresh smell of sweet roses and tulips lingered in the air. Blades of deep green grass spread around her. A white-picket-fence outlined the garden, with huge hedges along the outskirts. Rows and rows of flowers were placed in front of her, showing off every colour in the world. Purple and Pink Fuchsia, Yellow Daffodils, Blue Raspberry orchids – it was like a world of colour. There was a tree in the corners of the garden, one in each of the 4 corners of the square. Each tree was different – one was a willow tree, other oak, another pine and the fourth birch. The setting sun made everything look like it was slightly tinted the colour red.

At the end of the garden was a comfortable looking home. It wasn't too big or too small – just perfect for a family of four. It looked like any other house, except for, of course, the beautiful garden in front of it.

"Dahlia, come on!" she heard a voice.

Campsis whipped her head around and gasped at what she saw. A young girl, about 7 years old, with fiery red hair and beautiful hazel-green eyes ran out of the house and ran right past her. Campsis knew who that was – it was a younger version of herself.

Congratulations, Campsis! She told herself. You actually recognized yourself! Wow, isn't that amazing!

"Dahlia, you're so slow. And you're like 2 years older than me! Come on!" little Campsis grew impatient, but was laughing nonetheless.

That was when Campsis realized she wasn't dreaming – but it was a vision of an event that happened earlier in her life – one she couldn't remember.

There's a difference between a dream and a vision. Campsis realized that in a dream, for her at least, it was like she was watching a movie. She was watching all the action, everything that was happening. But in a vision, she was in the moment, present at whatever was going on. It was just that nobody could hear her or see her. It was like she was a ghost – invisible. Ironically, that's how she usually felt even when she was in the real world.

Invisible. Broken. Alone.

A voice sliced through Campsis' thoughts.

"Campsis, I'm not a slowpoke. I just carried you halfway across the lawn on my back!" another girl – slightly older –stopped running and bent over, trying to catch her breath. Campsis recognized her – her chocolate brown hair with natural golden streaks that glimmered in the sunset. And her eyes... When Campsis looked into them, she felt as if she was looking straight into space. Her eyes were a glittering, magical purple-blue. She was looking at a 9-year-old Dahlia.

"Dahlia!" young Campsis huffed impatiently, waving at her sister to hurry up.

Dahlia rolled her eyes and laughed at her little sister's impatience.

Campsis – the older one – followed her younger self and her sister, curious as to where they were going.

She followed them into the house they ran towards. The girls ran into the living room.

Campsis saw her parents. Her mother was sitting on the couch, her father beside her. They were both about 28 years old at this time. Campsis' mom was pretty, but not weak. She had bright blue eyes similar to Dahlia's eyes. Her brown hair with natural golden streaks was braided neatly down her back. Her dad, on the other hand, looked a bit more like Campsis – with the same hazel-brown eyes, though his hair was a light brown. That made Campsis wonder where her hair colour had come from.