The Northern Lights

Chapter 33. A Peaceful Wait.

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Eden is beginning to get used to this place. He likes going for walks along the glistening river, having conversations with the mountain and watching the enchanting lights. Soon, the sun will rise over this place, this utopia. Eden tries to remember the first sunset he watched with Arlo. In this place, he can remember everything, the first time he tied his shoe laces, the first kiss he shared with Azra, each breath and step he took on the mountain in Norway. If he tries hard enough, he can replay a memory in his head, like a video on a camera.

With his eyes shut, he takes a long, deep breath. He is transported to the perspective of his former self. It is the crack of dawn, birds begin to chirp, leaves begin to rustle. With his arm coiled around Azra, Eden's eyes study her facial features: her nose, her eyelashes, the almost unnoticeable freckles on her cheeks. As shimmer of golden rays begin to pierce the blinds and shine off Azra's face, a loud cry is heard down the hallway. The eyelids Eden had just been admiring begin to open.

"I got it," Eden says without hesitation, before laying a kiss on Azra's cheek. Azra smiles, snuggles her ear into the pillow. Eden stands up and walks silently to Arlo's room.

Arlo is wrapped in blankets of warmth as he squeals with his eyes closed. His tiny hands fly upwards as though needing to grab onto something. Eden leans over the cradle, gently picks him up. He walks around the room, gently rocking his baby. Eden smells Arlo's brown hair, it is beginning to curl, he thinks, before rubbing his nose against Arlo's forehead. Arlo stops crying, but his eyes remain open, staring at his father's features. Eden smiles at him, before walking out onto the balcony.

"This is the first time you've been out here isn't it?" he asks Arlo, who's response is a blink. Eden can't stop himself from smiling, "It's beautiful outside, isn't it?"

On the horizon, above the houses, trees, and eventually, Paris, a quarter of the sun has already risen. Azra slides the glass door open, leans her head on Eden's shoulder. Eden's irises can not be lifted from the star, despite the blinding it may cause. It is as though the longer they stare, the longer they must wait for it to rise. But as each inch of it begins to lift off of the horizon, each second that passes makes the sunrise become more beautiful. And as it finally stretches itself over the finish line, the family of three's patient wait is over. The sun beams angelically, its rays warm their faces. Finally, Eden looks away from the sun, his vision is slightly distorted. He glances down at his mountain, Arlo. His thin lips and chubby cheeks begin to form a smile.

After a moment of tranquillity, Eden looks back up at the sky, the sun. He blinks, and as he reopens his eyes he is back where he started, in paradise, or so, what it should look like. But what is paradise if he is without his wife, his son. As he stares at the new star that occupies his sky, he whispers to the mountain, 'When can I see him?'

Mount Arlo is still suffering pain from the last trip, is unsure how many more times he can transport himself through realities, 'I don't know exactly when, but you will.'

Eden cannot be mad at the mountain, he is like a guardian, an angel, 'Okay.' He replies, before gazing at the star in the sky. As his eyes begin to tear up again, he reassures himself that this will be a peaceful wait.