New Lightning

New Lightning: Part 5

I woke up from a dreamless night. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and glanced at the clock. 10:15. This time there was a yellow blouse and skinny jeans at the end of the bed. They fit me perfectly. Although, not really my style. I'd prefer boot cut jeans and a baggy shirt to go along with it, but like they say "something's better than nothing." A wavering scent of French toast filled my nostrils. Still no fried eggs. I hopped down the steps and seated myself in front of the toast. Linda was washing the dishes again just as yesterday. Linda must have lived a lonesome life. I had a feeling I knew what happened to her husband and didn't wish to drag it up into the conversation. No wonder she was happy to have a visitor. Guilt wavered over me once more. She seemed to have a lonesome life with only her cottage and her dishes while I go about, complaining a life that I'm sure Linda would give up a lot for. I devoured the French toast in silence.

"Are you alright, dear?" she asked. I shrugged. I wasn't sure to be honest. On one hand, I was here perfectly happy dining with Linda in this cute cottage and on the other, Mom could have hosted a frantic search party for my disappearance. I was thinking it over last night, about what Linda had said. She knows more about family than any other person I might've known. She didn't inquire why I had shrugged and I appreciated it. I wasn't in the mood to have a lecture on family. After she finished washing the last dish, she sat in the chair opposite from me. She interlocked her hands and set them on the table. I knew that pose, it was that pose when Mom was about to discuss some unpleasant news...whatever it may be, I wasn't too thrilled to hear it.

"I want you to practice a little bit more today. I'll try to help," she added. A nauseating feeling lingered in my stomach. She wants me to reunite with my family ASAP. We walked outside, me, following her at her heels. The morning was just as the last, cold and peacefully delicate, as though a single gust of wind would be easily able to disturb it. Once again, Linda sat cross legged and looked at me expectantly. I sat across from her this time. Before we started, Linda suggested techniques to clear my mind before starting class. I didn't think it would help at all, but Linda had insisted on trying. I still don't think it worked. After some exercising the brain, we began our practice.

"Think of something that might get you angry, but not so much so that it would create a bolt." I envisioned me dropping my toothbrush attempting to swat at the spider. I sensed great frustration. I nodded, indicating for her to continue.

"Now, think of something happy, like a moment with Emily, but quickly!" she shouted. Too late. My mind went into hyperdrive and began delivering images that made me fume. Electrifying currents seared through my body. If I was graded for this, I was sure my grade would be a fail. Lightning bolts, once again, sparked around us. I breathed out a disappointed sigh.

"It's okay, we'll just try again. We have plenty of time," she assured me. What we didn't know, was we only had a few hours or Earth would be nothing but a few chunks of rock swimming in endless space.

After, three hours of non-stop practicing, she whipped up some homemade hot chocolate. The warmth gave me an encouraging push that I was missing and I was ready to continue. Of course, the hot chocolate didn't assist me with the "calming down" part. Another hour and no enhancement. I didn't think I'm going to be doing meditation any time soon. We were surrounded in a circle of smoke elevating into the air as it had been an hour ago.

"Just try to think of small things, baby steps. Baby steps," she repeated. Again, nothing but the satisfaction of failure. She clapped as another sign of encouragement, but instead it sent a fuming thought and a streak of light jumped beside me.

"Please, no clapping," I pleaded. I closed my eyes and envisioned Dad telling me we couldn't buy a dog.

"Please, Dad!" I whine.