Surfacing

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Earth 2

Dr. Badu's office

As soon as they arrived, the receptionist knew exactly who they were and immediately escorted them to Dr. Badu's office. Dr. Badu looked surprised when she saw Janet and Toni, she hadn't put the names together. She had one of the renowned entertainment couples sitting in her office. She was trying not to fan girl it at the moment, but it was hard.

"Mrs. Jackson, I had no idea I was speaking with you, my sincere apologies." She addressed Janet first, then Toni. "Ladies please take a seat, you too sir. We may be here for a while."

"Before we start I need to make a phone call." Janet walked near the door and called Tamar. She asked her to pick up the kids and keep them for the night.

"Ready?" asked Dr. Badu

"Yes." Both Janet and Toni spoke at the same time.

"Toni tell me about your day today?"

"I got up rather early for a breakfast with my maid of honor and sisters. After breakfast we went to pick-up my jewelry that I had left at my house for my wedding. Janet was panicking and being hormonal, which made me think she was pregnant." Dr. Badu interrupted her.

"So, you do know Janet?"

"Yes, but not this one." She said pointing her thumb at Janet.

"Please continue."

"I get to my house and Janet goes in with me. I make her take a pregnancy test, but it turns out to be negative. We grab my jewelry and meet my sisters back at the gardens. My wedding planner Gil, escorts us to one of the nicest bathrooms I've even seen. Everything is set up for me and my bridal party to get out hair and make-up done. Hair and make-up take about 4 hours, it's early evening by the time we finish. Gil comes back and says one hour until I Do. Janet leaves to make a phone call her boyfriend is in Atlanta. She comes back as my sisters are zipping up my dress. She starts crying and my sister Towanda tells her to stop and wipes her face. Gil comes back for the last time and says five minutes. I hear the music we chose for Kenny's entrance, then it changes for the bridal party, and finally changes for me. I take my father's arm, my nephew just got finished ringing the bell and running down the aisle saying the bride is coming. My father and I start walking and about twenty steps into our walk I start feeling hot, a few more steps and I pass out. I woke up here."

"Is there anything else you can remember, like another small detail like you said you felt hot before passing out?"

"Yes, when Janet came back and saw me in my dress and started crying. I had a feeling of déjà vu."

"Well ladies I know what happened. I'm going to try to explain as best I can for you Toni."

"Alright. But why just me?"

"It will all be clear in a minute. Alright, Toni?" She took a breath and began to speak. "We all live in a huge galaxy much bigger than you can comprehend. There are multiple earths with the same people but living different realities. Earth 2 and beyond know about the other earths. Earth one where you are from does not know of the existence of the other earths. Your minds are slightly less capable of understanding the intricacies of multiple earths." Dr. Badu paused explanation because it looked as if Toni had a question. She was right.

"So, there is more than one me who's life is being lived on multiple other earths? Right?"

"That is correct. Did I mention how you are connected to all the other Tonis through your subconscious which is why we have feelings of déjà vu? However this time is a special case because your subconscious didn't switch but rather your conscience. You are exactly who you believe yourself to be however you've been brought to this reality. I'm going to assume that it happened because you suffered some kind of brain trauma. So in order for your brain on earth 1 to heal itself it sent you here."

"So, I am Toni Michele Braxton but not?"

"That is exactly what I am saying. I don't' know how long it will take for your brain on earth 1 to heal itself. You may be here for a while. Also time here moves a little slower than on your earth."

"Is there anything I can do to speed up the healing process? And what about hearing Janet speak to me in my head?"

"You will continue to hear whoever speaks to you on earth 1. It may seem a little overwhelming but I will be here to help you."

Janet and Toni both looked at Dr. Badu, then each other and then to anything other than each other. Janet nor Toni really knew how to deal with situation. They both sat a while in Dr. Badu's office trying to gather their thoughts. Joey now understood why Toni hadn't called him Bear. This was a situation that rarely happened and when it did neither person returned back to their original earth and timeline. As they were leaving Toni began to hear someone speaking to her. The voice was soothing and made Toni feel warm inside, she was guessing it was her mother.

They left the office and went home. Janet had called a family meeting to explain what was going on. This meeting was not about to be fun at all. They would probably have questions that she couldn't answer.