***James***
Seeing my hand disappear into the trunk of a large tree is very strange, but par for the course when I think of the past twelve hours. I turn to Serena before I step through this strange magical tree, her expression stoic, but her eyes betray her.
This is as hard for her as it is for me.
"This is not goodbye, but I need...time...to think," I tell her, because it is true. I will see her again; but the circumstances are rather unknown for me, right now. There is a lot for me to unpack in my head and I just need home.
I step through and find myself in the middle of the botanical garden. I breathe out slowly and pause, my brain catching up to what should not be possible and yet apparently is. I begin to walk through the garden but jump suddenly as the blonde woman who seems to
