I Am

Death Only Wakes from a True Love's Kiss

Within an empty, surreal plain of glowing dark lights, the girl without a name stood within that darkness, naked and alone. Unsure of who she was, she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Where am I? The voice was soft as it spoke into her mind. Was this what her voice sounded like? But why couldn't she speak? As the dark glow surrounded her body, all she could do was allow the lights to take her away to a better place.

She opened her eyes and blinked for a moment. Who am I? A voice whispered within her mind. She wondered how old she was, what she looked like, and how she came to be. But as she gazed up at what seemed to be a relatively normal ceiling, she realized that the ceiling was not hers. What was hers? This room could be hers for all she knew. She sat up to glance around the unfamiliar room, which had stone walls, windows with stained glass, and medieval-themed furniture. Colored light from the windows reflected onto the wall, and as a moment passed, the light grew brighter. While she admired the beautiful rainbow of colors, she shifted on the bed, realizing that she wore a wedding dress. Unsure why she would be wearing such a thing, the uncertainty dawned on her. A stranger would marry her. Fear burned within her stomach. The fabric rustled once she moved to stand up. But when the door opened to the room, she sat back down and waited for whoever might enter. Maybe they could tell her who she was.

A petite woman with red coiffured hair and blue eyes walked into the room, but when she noticed her sitting on the bed, the woman froze with her hand on the doorknob. The woman's hair grew redder in the light. Black tears ran down her face. Her mascara dripped from her eyelids.

"Aurora! You are awake. I thought you had.... After you fell down the steps, you hit your head, and well, you are awake. And that's all that matters." She slid a finger under her eyelid. "I should have worn waterproof mascara. You did tell me to use yours, Aurora. But man, do I regret that now. How was I to know that I'd be crying all day..."

"Is that my name?"

The woman gave her a shocked look. "You're joking, right? Aurora... that is not funny. Do you see my face? I am a bit emotional, and I do not appreciate this right now. I need to go to the bathroom and fix my makeup before you go back downstairs to the wedding."

Aurora stared at the woman in silence as she waited for a reply.

"You aren't joking, are you?"

"I am not."

"Then you don't know who I am."

"No. I'm sorry, I don't."

The woman wore a long purple lace dress. The fabric swayed as she paced. She finally stopped near a light tan and brown settee and then crossed her arms with a frown.

"Are you going to answer my question," Aurora asked with a sigh.

"I'm your sister. Christine, Aurora," she replied after she strode over to the bed.

"Where are we?"

Christine resumed her pacing. "I can't believe this," she grumbled. "I knew it, but he didn't listen to me." She rubbed her eye and smeared her makeup, causing the black eyeliner to smudge across her cheek and eyelid. "We should have called an ambulance when you fell... Are you sure you remember nothing?"

Aurora opened her mouth, but Christine held out her hand to silence her.

"No, don't answer me. I know, I know. You remember nothing. This is simply great. You have always been clumsy, Aurora. And, of course, you would topple down just three steps. It was as if a ghost yanked you backward. Damn you, James. This is all your fault for not catching her."

"Who's James? And can you please tell me where I am?"

Christine massaged her temples with a scrunched-up face. "That's it. I am calling 911. I do not care what he says. And you are in a castle in Louisiana at your wedding. Well, not an actual castle. You know what I mean. James wanted to have the wedding in a church, but you decided that you had to reserve this castle in the swamp... Aunt Mary kept complaining about the heat and the bugs. She also said that you would not wake up at all. And I was not having any of that. Stupid, Aunt Mary. I never liked her. She seemed all excited to have a funeral. You better not die, Aurora. If you do, I swear I'll kill you myself."