The Choice

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I have been sitting just staring at the photographs for about 10 min and I can’t bring myself to call for Celeste just yet. I want to process everything so far today and read the letters. Just as I am about to move the letters to the duffle bag for safe keeping my phone rings and I check the id it’s mom!

“Hey mom, what’s up?”

“I heard about Angela Where are you?”

“I took a drive I needed to think, and cry and be alone.”

“I understand jelly bean but I want you to be safe why don’t you come home we can have lunch and head over to the Patricks’ and pay our respects.”

“I already spoke with Mrs. Patrick. Maybe we can go tomorrow. I just really need to be by myself for now I will be home for dinner ok.”

“Ok, keep your phone on and call if you need something and don’t go too far from home, stay in town ok.”

“Why?”

“Lillian just do this for me and stay in town!”

“Alright mom. See you at dinner. Love you”

“Love you too jelly bean!”

She never calls me Lillian it’s been jelly bean for as long as I can remember. She said it was because when she was pregnant that is what I looked like on the screen was a jelly bean. Lillian was chosen by my dad it was his mother’s name and she had passed away several years before I was born but I was always told she was brave, strong and kind. Her calling me Lillian did not mean good news.

After that call my stomach starts to rumble louder than the music on the radio so I decide to drive to the drive in burger joint Angela and I used to love and grab some lunch. After eating I lean my head back on the seat and ask myself if I even want to know anymore. My life is shaping up to be one big lie and I don’t know if I want to know the truth. Just then that feeling in the pot of my stomach that I am now going to refer to as my bullshit detector urges me to continue in my quest.

I grab the first letter and take a deep breath and mutter, “I am seriously too old for this” and unfold it. At the top is that same symbol as on the seal. The letter reads;

My Sweet Lillian,

I know this must have come as such a surprise to you but everything your aunt and uncle have told you is true.

“What wait a minute, aunt and uncle, I don’t have an aunt or uncle mom is an only child and dads sister died when he was a teenager.”

It continues;

Your time with them has come to an end and it is time you return home with the prince. He is needed to balance the power in our realm and since your job was done in protecting him until the time came.

“Wait who is the prince? Why am I here to protect him?”

It continues;

You and the prince will follow Celeste back to the doorway to our realm. Your aunt and uncle have to stay behind but I will leave that for them to explain. Just know we never wanted to send you away but with you being fated to the prince and his life in such danger that he had to be hidden away we had to send you too. We have missed you everyday and love you.

Till we see you again,

Mother and Father

“Uh What?” I start looking around to see if I’m being punkd. Is that even a thing anymore? I don’t know but I feel like it’s happening to me. The only thing I can think to do is call Celeste, I don’t know that I fully trust her but as of yet she hasn’t lied to me. The other letters are address to, the prince and the other to Celeste. I figure those are their business so I will give them there when I see the I guess. I don’t even know at this point. I take a deep breath but then just feel deflated and whisper, “Celeste”

Thankfully I had moved everything off the passenger seat before she popped in.

“Hey good lookin!”

“Seriously my life is literally falling apart and being rewritten and you are this chipper!?!”

“Look Lilly bug I know this is hard but I am just excited that we are putting things right.”

“Whatever, I don’t understand this letter. My parents don’t have any living siblings, I don’t know any prince and have know idea what realm I am supposed to take him to.”

“Talk to your parents, they won’t want to tell you but you need to stand your ground and get your answers. It is their story to tell not mine. As far as the prince… you are connected, fated, you will find each other.”

And with that she disappears again. I guess it’s time to talk to my parents. Being a mother already is really making me wonder what could be so bad that you lie to your child for her whole life! I just don’t understand any of this. Does me keeping my memories of the previous timeline help in some way? What exactly does fated entail is it romantic or just connected? And what is this guy prince of? I am so confused but here I go put the truck in gear crank up my 90’s pop music and head home.