The Time Between

CHAPTER ONE

                                                                                 -   JAMES   -

It was the same dream. Again.

James Christopher Stephen, Crown prince of Astrelia, stirs out of his sleep and sits abruptly on his four-poster bed, reliving his dream.

James and Dahlia had planned to meet publicly for the first time. James had been on his toes dreading this day. He couldn’t concentrate on anything. Part of the reason was him going public with a girl. Another part of the reason was the girl itself. He would remember her magical voice, and that could make his pulse race. He would remember her gentle smile, and he’ll be over the moon. Just thinking about her makes his knees go jelly. 

He alone drove in his white BMW to the destination- The Animal Paradise. When James questioned Dahlia about the place, she just shrugged and said the crowd was less there. He arrived at the zoo and got out of the car. It was a cloudless day with a gentle breeze. The place is not crowd as much as he thought it would. His eyes roamed, searching for her. She had said to meet near the entrance. And that was when James saw Her, walking towards him.

She is wearing a yellow-colored casual dress that reached her calves with a brown long-sleeved jacket and brown ankle boots.

And just like that, James had trouble breathing. His heart started to hammer. He was staring at her, his mouth hanging open. She looked so pretty. He just wanted to stare at her for the rest of his life. Dahlia started to get nervous. She was fidgeting and twiddling with her fingers. Maybe, she thought she didn’t look presentable. She adjusted her hair, and that was when James realized how stupid he had been, gawking at her like that. He regained his composure and said, ‘Hi. How are you? ‘

‘I am doing well. And you?’

‘Yeah, I am doing great.’

There was an awkward silence for a few heartbeats. Dahlia walked, passing the gate with James following. She went near the shelf that held different kinds of colorful postcards and brochures, maps of the gigantic zoo, etc. Dahlia fetched a brochure.

‘Where do you want to head first? The safari park or the birds’ sanctuary?’ Dahlia asks. James glanced at the brochure in her hands.

The zoo has divided into three sections: safari park, birds’ sanctuary, and the Aquarium World. James was glad that Dahlia had remembered that he has a fear for water. She didn’t mention any of that, and he was pleased that she was so calm about him. 

‘Well, what do you want to see?’ he repeated the question. 

‘The bird’s sanctuary would be nice.’ 

And together, they went in that direction. There was a silence again but a comfortable one. It was Dahlia who disrupted the silence again. 

‘What is your dream?’ 

He was taken aback by her question. No one has ever asked him this question. Why would anyone ask in the first place? James was the Crown Prince, and he will become the king of Astrelia. Why would he have a dream when he is going to be the king? People tend to forget the fact that James is also a mere human. People thought that he was larger than life. People thought James had a perfect life. That he couldn’t ask for more, even though no one has admitted it to him.

But the bitter truth is that every unspoken word is correct. That, James has everything he needs in his life. But the n***d truth is that he doesn’t have anything he desires. 

James realized that he has been in deep thought, forgetting the presence of Dahlia. He cursed at his obliviousness and gave Dahlia an apologetic smile, and replied to her question. ‘Yes. I have a dream. Doesn’t everyone have one?’

 She seemed to think a little about that and nod her head.

James snapped back to reality when he heard the clock tower in the town strikes thrice. He rubs his eyes and switches on the light.

The room is an enormous and rectangular shape. The chandelier is caked, with dust and cobwebs weaved around it. The four-poster bed is unmade and tousled. The drapes hanging loosely on all four sides. The massive, oak-paneled desk is untidy, with pens tossed around and paper piled up. A wilted bunch of daffodils still in the vase. The leather revolving desk chair turned from the desk is all difficult to watch.  

James stretches his hands and gets up, and move to the bathroom. He stares at himself in the mirror. His blue, tired eyes distant, the beard has grown and face shabby, and his black hair unkempt and his clothes wrinkled. His lips are set in a permanent frown like they lost their will to smile anymore. He shakes his head and begins to shower.

He wraps a towel around his torso and walks to the adjoined dressing room. The room is long and wide with a long mirror and a dresser. Dressed in a male mannequin is a burgundy-colored tuxedo with a white shirt, black bow, and a handkerchief.  

Prince James decided to put his past out of his mind for sake of his father even though it was difficult. Every time he closes his eyes, he remembers something of her, her beautiful smile, or her long-golden hair, or her green- gentle eyes. And every time, the pain is as raw as it has ever been. He couldn’t even attend her funeral. It was all his fault. If he gets a second chance, he could undo it all, not because it hurt him because it hurt her. 

James calls for the royal hair dresser-David, who comes with a look of surprise because the crown prince hasn’t summoned him for months. He takes a look at his hair and tuts. It will take a long time, and he begins the work immediately. David was done after two hours, gave a quick and left.

James examines himself in the mirror while buttoning the top button of the tuxedo. He adjusts his bow. And finally, James takes one of the wristwatches from his collection and wears it. It wasn’t until he is strapping the belt of the watch, he glances at it and become conscious of the wristwatch. It is the same he had been wearing the day he went to the zoo with Dahlia. And just like that, the rest of the memory starts flooding inside his mind.

After they finished the trip to the birds’ sanctuary, they walked wandering, chatting about where to go next. At least, James has been. But Dahlia had seemed to know where they were going. She was getting uneasy and distracted easily. Suddenly, Dahlia stopped and took something out of her bag. She hid it behind her, and with her voice shaking, she asked, ‘do you trust me, James? ‘ 

Startled, he replied with a yes. He had answered with a yes because there was a look of pleading and anticipation behind forest-green eyes. Before James had the chance to wonder what the heck was this about, she stepped behind him and toed up to reach him, and tied a blindfold to his eyes. She moved beside him and guided him for a few minutes. He knew where they were even before she untied the blindfold. He knew by the smell, and he knew by the temperature. His palms began to sweat. There were beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He wanted to sprint and put distance between this place and him as much as he can. He wants to crawl and hide somewhere, anywhere. 

Dahlia untied the blindfold but, he wouldn’t open his eyes. He started back away. He felt like an animal trapped in a cage. And then he heard Dahlia say, ‘do you trust me?’ But he did not answer this time. He was too scared to get mad at her.

‘James’, she said soothingly.’ It’s alright, it’s going to be fine. You are going to be okay. Focus on my voice. It’s okay, you don’t have to open your eyes. I’ll guide you. You don’t have to reach the end, you can stop in the middle and always turn back……’ she was saying continuously but, he couldn’t concentrate. 

‘…….count one to ten, it will help.’ She was saying as she was weaving her hand through his. ‘Why don’t you take one step at time?’ she suggested but didn’t wait for an answer. She began to guide him slowly, and James trusted Dahlia to take him safely through the world he’s terrified of, to take him safely through the world he did not want to face. 

And just like that, James trusted the memories of Dahlia to take him safely through the world he did not want to face today.