I hated moving around, since we seemed to do it every few weeks. It seemed like my Mum and I were running away from something. I felt cheated I wasn’t living a normal life; I practically lived out of my suitcase. But if we were running away, what were we running away from?
Mum pulled the car up on the side of the road so we could walk around for a bit. I stood still looking at the mountains in the afternoon sun, they looked like magical gems filled with peace.
My eyes drifted from the mountains to Mum, her eyes were fixed on the range ahead. But something was different about her, a kind of stillness. Maybe it could have been age creeping up on her, or how she appeared transfixed in the moment her thoughts distant and elsewhere. It was then I realized my Mum was missing her shadow.
I had never heard, seen or read anything about missing shadows in my life. Well Peter Pan I guess, but that was just fiction. Here I was now in the moment of reality, and in reality shadows just didn’t go missing.
I scrunched my face up with too many thoughts now clouding my mind, I closed my eyes and looked for an escape.
My eyes opened to nightfall outside and a dimly lit lounge room. Where was Mum? I questioned, as my senses became slightly alive. I could just see since the light was dull, and in the next room I could make out my Mum’s soft melodical voice.
Mum was standing over a kitchen counter making tea, an elderly couple sat at a dining room table.
“Mum!” I announced as I had entered the room, my mum looked up
“Did you have an alright sleep?”
“Not sure” I replied looking around the room filled with lovely glass mosaics.
Instantly before I knew it the elderly women was hugging me tightly, “Your Grandparents!” Mum mouthed bringing out the cups of tea for them.
“What does it mean when your shadow goes missing?” I asked aloud thinking deeply as I sat under the old Cedar tree.
“Maybe it means you’re invisible!” said a deep voice.
I looked up and saw a boy around fifteen with elf-like features looking down on me “I’m Willow!” he said.
“Invisible!” I repeated trying to make sense, not caring to know his name.
The smell of Spring was in the air as I sat under the old Cedar tree. I could smell all the perfumes of Spring crawling up my nostrils, Jasmine, Roses and even Lavender. They were all so intoxicating it opened my eyes to the facts.
“How can death be prolonged for another time, if not forever?” I felt like a Philosopher contemplating life’s existence when He answered.
“There is no such thing as forever, for eventually everything dies. It’s what waits after death that counts!”
I began to think of all those beliefs out there surrounding the afterlife. The magical place of harmony some people believed in, or the whole living forever thing. Either way life moved on, just according to your belief on what immortality meant to you spiritually and personally.
Although a sceptic I believed it possible, some form of immortality might exist. The Holy Grail, Fountain of Youth even the un-dead. All forms of immortality, just hard to believe which was realistic.
“Maybe the missing shadow is related to the un-dead, or even your Mum not having enough immortality in her to live out the rest of her life.”
Mum broke in before the conversation could go any further. “Ada I’m heading into town!” I heard her call.
“I better go!” I said, but when I looked up Willow was already gone. I then ran towards the house, only I never quite made it for my mum was lying on the ground. “Help somebody?” I screamed loudly, but no one seemed to be coming to my aid.
I noticed the shadow of a dark hooded figure lurking to the left, that person reminded me of The Grim Reaper...
Mum had collapsed to be in a peaceful comma like state, she was still breathing which was the main thing. But I still couldn’t help but feel death was lurking upon her. I had seen The Grim Reaper, but he couldn’t take her when she was healthy. There had to be away of prolonging or even stopping death.
As soon as my Grandfather came to my assistance, I ran off for I felt as if there was more I could do for her if I was out here.
The forest was so large and giant like, it was a shame I didn’t have the time to admire its beauty. Time was just one thing that wasn’t on my side, so I couldn’t fritter away with it if I wished to save my Mum’s life.
I was determined to find a water spring and put my believes in nature holding the key to my mother recovering.
“Hey wait up, I have been thinking!” Willow called out from behind. “Shadows are like usually attached to you, well I have been thinking maybe shadows are linked to dark matter. Like something from another world has latched onto you!” Willow puffed trying to catch his breath.
“Maybe shadows are our lives waiting for us to die and once again fill us in living forever elsewhere, where we will always be immortal!” He was still panting on as I was thinking.
I could remember once when I was little Mum telling me about a spring in the forest she use to play near being magical and how whenever she was thirsty out here she’d drink from it rather than going back to the house. Maybe her body thirsted for that, it was a long shot but I wanted to find that spring and I had a drink bottle to fill for when I did.
An hour lead to another hour of walking around on forest path after forest path, eventually the paths ended and I was left wondering whether to trail off the paths or not. But with Mum sick, I was unsure I wanted to get lost if it meant losing her. But somehow I was lucky to see just within the distance the sparkle or water trickling down into a small pool. Quickly I walked over and hurriedly filled the drink bottle, twisting on the lid and running back towards the house.
I placed the water to her lips and forced her to sip, instantly she awoke groggily. “Mum it’s me Ada, I brought you some water from that spring you told me you’d drink from when you were younger.”
She mumbled something I didn’t understand, but lazily drifted back off to sleep. I dared not to leave her side, I couldn’t leave her not knowing if the spring water was going to work.
When morning came I opened my eyes to find Mum awake, she looked much better. A rose colour seemed to be in her cheeks, “Mum you’re alright!” I exclaimed hugging her with all my might.
“I’ve been fine for days love” replied Mum hugging me back.
“But you’ve been sick and the spring water healed you!” I exclaimed still worried, only now I was slightly confused.
“It was just my diabetes playing up on me, I ran out of insulin a few days ago. That’s why I wanted to come here!” She replied hugging me tighter.
“You have diabetes?” I questioned in surprised.
“Yes Honey that’s why we have been moving lately! I wanted to be closer to my parents!”
“So you’re not going to die?”
“Not yet I hope!”
“Then why is your shadow missing?” I asked confused.
“I never noticed it was gone!” My Mum gave a laugh, and so I couldn’t help but laugh too.
