The Universe In Her

Nine: The Flame

From: Jessss
"Are you ready? Meet me at lunch on our favorite cafe in the uni. ♥"

"Ugh, Jess. She's all too excited about this. It's too early," I carried myself out of the bed to get ready. After showering, I reached out to my drawer to find my necklace.

"Wait. Where is it?" I got confused, panic went all over my head, "Where is it!" I removed all of my things on the drawer but my necklace is nowhere to be found. Slowly, I felt lightheaded and sat down on the floor.

"Somebody help this kid!"
"Mommy! Daddy! Help me!"

I gasped as a memory crept into me. I texted Jess that I will be a little late. I have to pull myself together. I don't like it when my friends worry about me.

"Ahh! What! Why is this happening to me?" I didn't realize that my tears are slowly falling down my face. This nightmare has stopped following me for so many years but after a while, it is coming back again. I just can't have my peace of mind. I am tired. I am so tired to be this weak. People get so encouraged, so lifted up through my positivity but I can't even fight my own nightmares. It is draining me.

I looked up the ceiling. Gab, you just have to fight. One day everything will be answered.

I came back to my senses as my phone suddenly vibrated, I even lost all of my energy as I saw who it was.

"Sweetie," I didn't answer but she knew.

I heard her gasp over the phone, "Oh. Gabrielle, sweetie. Are you okay?."

I wanted to shout. I wanted to hurt her but I am dealing with too much I can't do it anymore.

"Gabrielle, I am doing everything I can to help you."

"You can't help me if you keep hiding things from me. Mom, I need answers. I just have to know what happened for me to get all over it. I need to know everything. I need to know everyone who were involved. I just want to have a peace of mind," I snapped at her.

She inhaled, "Gabrielle. It's best if you don't know it. Your dad and I are trying to work things out, we're trying to protect you."

"Protect? You think you're doing that? Well, tell you what, I've been having the same nightmares for almost 12 years now. You don't understand. You don't because you're not in my shoes! I just... I just hate you so much for doing this to me. Now, it's all coming back again!"

I immediately composed myself as I heard my mom's voice shaking, "Gabrielle. I'm sorry. I have to go. I love you."

"I don't want to talk to you," I hung up. I am exhausted from all this drama! I just want to be okay. I just want to be okay.

Someone called again and this time, it's Jess. Oh, I almost forgot. I have to compose myself.

"Gabe! Where are you? Are you okay?" She's worried, she knows that it's unusual for me to show up late when we have to meet.

"Ugh, Jess! Of course I am! I just got stuck choosing the right outfit for today! You know I don't want to have a bad impression," I tried my best to sound okay.

"Okay then, he said he's almost here. He'll probably be here earlier than you! So get your ass off here now girl!"

"Seriously, since when did you start talking like that?" I laughed.

"As if you don't talk like this!"

I laughed, "Well then, see in you in a bit!"

I sighed. It's gonna be a long day.

I arrived a little less than 20 minutes to the cafe. I immediately heard Jess' laugh as soon as I entered the cafe.

"Gabe! Over here!" I smiled, this girl sure do has a lot of energy. I stopped walking when I saw that the guy in front of her seems familiar to me. I was shocked when he turned around to see me. I noticed that he was also shocked as well but he immediately tried to hide it and smiled at me.

"What?" Jess suddenly became confused

"Well, Jess. It's because Daniel and I already met."

"What? You haven't told me about it? When?"

"Well, I didn't expect that he's your guy. I was sitting next to him on the plane. He's also part of one of the arts club."

"Whoa," she laughed, "Well I guess I don't have to formally introduce you to each other."

Daniel laughed, "Well it sure is a small world."

I sat down across Jess, "So, how did you two meet?"

"Well, I bumped into him on the airport. He said that he was waiting for his cousin, in which we will also meet here. I think he's also part of the arts club. We chatted a little and there he helped me with my things and he got my number and the rest is history," Jess narrated proudly

"Of course, she's Jess. Everybody will go crazy over her. You be ready, Daniel," I joked.

We talked more about our lives, it turns out that Daniel also lives in Alaska. He told us that he used to live in Florida but he has a reason why he went to Alaska. We tried to ask him about it but he told us that it's a very sensitive topic for him.

"Oh by the way, Gabby, do you want to visit the club? Have you decided? My cousin is joining it as well."

"Really? Actually, based on the paintings that I saw, I think I would like to be part of your club and it would be a pleasure for me to meet your cousin," I smiled

"Are you guys going to your club? I have to meet my group for the a new activity. Is it okay if I go first? This is so unexpected," Jess told us with worry in her face.

"Jess we're fine don't worry, go do your work."

"Will you be okay?"

"Of course, I know Daniel and he's part of the club I'm joining in," I smiled as she reached out to kiss me.

She bid us goodbyes and gave Daniel a hug.

"Shall we go now?"

I nodded. Daniel smiled.

"You know I saw one of your works."

I looked up at him, "My work? Where?"

"I asked your professor about it," He said.

"Mr. Carter?" I asked and he nodded, "Well, I think he didn't like my works," I said.

"Mr. Carter really has high expectations, he told me that he was impressed by the way you answered him. I think it's up to you to find out what you have to do," he smiled sheepishly, "I'm sorry. I just got really curious about you. You were so mesmerized by the painting displayed on our booth last time. It's unusual."

"Oh. It's just that it seems familiar to me."

"The painting?"

"Yes," I smiled

"It seems like it," he said as he looked sideways, "We're almost here."

I made my way inside the club's room and I saw different kind of paintings.

"You're free to look. My cousin will be here, I will be out for a minute. Are you okay here?"

"Yes, sure no problem."

I looked at the paintings and once again, one painting caught my eye. It's really familiar to me. The stroke. The way it is painted. I looked at it carefully. It's a woman, searching for something. But what really got me is her eyes, she looks familiar.

"Um," I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard somebody cleared his throat, "Hey."

My eyes widened at the sight of the man in front of me. IS THIS POSSIBLE?

My heart suddenly can't stop beating fast.