Hidden River

Beautiful Complications

Michael Outside The Book

I watch as Michael Inside The Book gets up for the day. His tree is stretching itself awake. Now it's shaking like a wet dog. I laugh, watching my young self trying to grab hold of something as our vessel continues to test out its branches.

He shouts to the vessel, "Will you stop! I'm awake; no need to belabor the point."

I send words running down the trunk around the arched open room that comprises the main living quarters. I summon rain clouds, telling them to start brewing a storm above his head.

Myself Inside The Book looks up. "No, no, I'm sorry, I'm just tired"

Our tree, our traveling vessel, my self, my other self's home away from home shakes again, this time more subdued.

I sigh to myself, thinking. The journey used to be exciting, but I must confess I'm weary of it... I want to find my love, so I sit here and wait. I know it will be many years until I first see her, so as I said, I wait.

"Hello Your Royal Highness. It's time for you to wake up the girl below and show her this vessel."

"But how?" he asks me.

I write the instructions on the wall “Go down to the music room on the first floor; you'll see a radio there.”

I watch as he leaps onto the rope hanging from his bedroom loft suspended above the living room. He then runs into the room and speaks into the radio speaker.

Alisa

"Good morning, citizens, it's a beautiful day for complications"

I look around... Where is that sound coming from? If I didn't know better, I would think it's a radio announcer, but I have no radio...

The bright young voice greets me again. "Good morning, Alisa...Don't freak out; my name is Michael; if you look out the window, you'll see my tree; it's where I live. I have to go now; I'll greet you again later.

"Cause that's not at all creepy," I mutter to myself.

I get out of bed and walk onto the balcony adjoining my suite. Sure enough, there is a tree hanging out in midair. I can't help but laugh; I get ready and then walk to my practice room. Just like yesterday, Freddy is stretching at the barre. He runs his hair through his short dirty brown/blonde hair.

I say, "Good morning."

"Good morning," he replies. "sleep well?" he adds.

I shrug. "Well, enough. You?"

"Well, enough?" he sounds concerned.

Don't ask, don't ask... Please don't ask what I mean by that. He takes a breath as if holding himself back, and he thankfully doesn't ask any more questions.

"We have a lot to do, don't we?"

"Yes, we do," he says... Yes! Thank you, he knows how to take a hint.

Freddy extends his hand, and I take it.

The morning speeds by, and before I know it, we're breaking for lunch.

Freddy

We both head downstairs to the first-floor café for lunch. Alisa and I sit at the same table, then, much to my chagrin, Peter Mason sits next to her.

"Hey," Peter extends his hand to Alisa, "I'm Peter Mason."

"Hey," she responds.

"What's your name?"

"Alisa"

Oh no, I know if he turns on the charm, I won't stand a chance, at least until he breaks her heart, which I'm sure he will. Oh please, Alisa, don't fall for it. Phoenix, my sister, sits next to me, and pretty soon, all the performers have settled at the table, including my best friend, Colten, and Lynn. Colten is looking at my sister like she's an angel; he pipes up.

"Hi, fire." Oh no, that is the worst thing he can call her, but I don't jump in. I want to see how this plays out; she sinks into her chair.

"Why did you call me that?" She sounds like the wounded bird she is.

He back peddles. "No reason; you just seem like fire to me."

I stop myself from reaching my hand out to her, knowing it will embarrass her, and take a breath.

"Don't call me that," she barks.

Colten ducks his head. "Sorry, you met Lynn." He says, changing the subject.

She breathes a sigh of relief. "Yes, well, sort of hi."

Lynn is the kind of girl who always says what you want to hear but in a way that makes you think. She has perfected the art of undertones. Case in point...

"His Fiancé," She says, dripping with the notes of possession that only comes from unspoken jealousy.

I can practically see Phoenix gasp though she doesn't open her mouth. "Oh, I see," Phoenix practically whispers, and Peter, the perceptive ass that he is, picks up on it.

"Yes, apparently, it takes 5 years to set a wedding date" That's an unexpected kindness coming from him.

That doesn't mean that I'm not going to rib him anyway. "Peter, you could at least pretend to be human," I say

Lynn speaks up, clearly uncomfortable "So, Phoenix, that's a different name."

Phoenix shrugs. "I guess it's my name."

I recognize Lynn's need to be kind, but she doesn't realize that the question is a complicated topic for my sister to discuss.

Lynn tries again, "'Where are you from?" Can't Lynn see that Phoenix doesn't want to talk? Or maybe she means to dig. I can't help but think she has good reason to.

Phoenix shifts in her seat. "Winnipeg, same as Freddy"

After this, I tune out slightly, only coming back to the conversation when my contribution is absolutely required. We spend the rest of lunch with little fanfare, then head back to practice, where we stay for the rest of the day.

Michael Outside The Book

---

The sun is setting, keeping time.

The moon is rising, marking the night.

The girl I see before my eyes is looking for another's light.

That light is dark and full, and sighs

Her mind is elsewhere, breaking ties.

To the past pain that cries

---

Alisa

I walk outside and up the boardwalk along the lake toward my condo. As I'm walking, I feel myself being sucked into something I can't explain.

Michael Outside The Book

I can see myself, the other I, sitting on a branch, watching the world of the book beneath his gaze. I look at Alisa walking out of the hall. As much as I hate to cause my girl pain, I know she'll never be able to move on with her life until she faces the death she thinks she caused. I throw down a portal at her feet, and she walks through it.

Alisa

Suddenly, I'm trapped in a truck tipped sideways next to an unconscious man. No, no, I can't be here; this is a dream, it's a dream... I'm not here. I struggle in vain as I feel my mind pulling me into this memory. I am experiencing it all over again, my Father's death at my hands... I know without going through this hell again what's going to happen. A man will come and try to save him, but it'll be of no use. My Father, my best friend in the whole world, is gone, and it was all my fault. I should have been paying closer attention.

I watch in the back of my mind as I hear myself scream. "Dad! Dad!"

I see a man run up beside me. I faintly hear him say, "Help is on the way."

"I can't move," My voice cracks.

"It's okay" His voice is warm and rich; it settles my nerves.

Suddenly, I'm no longer in that awful memory. I'm now right in Peter's path.

"Hey, earth to Alisa... What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

"Oh, sorry, Peter." He turns his head sideways, looking at me with a puppy dog grin; I stare him straight in the eye. "No offense Peter, but I really want to be left..."

He kisses me before I have a chance to finish my sentence. I pull back and gasp, then I think... He'll never be the guy for me, so why the hell not? It's what I deserve, so I kiss him back with all the intensity of a gale-force wind.

Freddy

I knew the minute I saw Peter follow Alisa what would happen. I walk out to the boardwalk and see Alisa and Peter wrapped in each other's arms. He takes her up the condo stairs at the other end of the boardwalk. I feel like my heart just dropped to my stomach, my chest is burning, and my throat constricts. Don't cry, don't; she's not yours.