Chasing the wind

Chapter 5: Frozen moments

h    Wyatt looks dead serious and says “I got a random letter in the mail one day and it led me on a treasure hunt. I had to go to some ancient ruins and risked my life to get my hands on it.” We both sit in silence for a while staring at each other. Suddenly he burst out laughing bending over and clutching his stomach. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

     I shove him and he falls on his side. He lays there for a little bit pouting up at me.

    He sits back up “Sorry I couldn't help myself. It’s something that my grandmother gave me, she said it was passed down in the family. To every other generation and apparently, it’s my turn since I’m an only child.”

     “Did she say anything about it?” I ask, tilting my head eagerly. 

     “Well, when I was a kid she used to tell me stories about how our family used to have some type of ability. She said we used to be able to read the stars but then the skies became clouded and because of the pollution you couldn’t see then clearly anymore. By the time the skies cleared, we had forgotten our purpose. Technology became our stars, our family gift was long gone.”

     He fell silent for a short time before continuing. “Although our gift was gone we still had something connecting us to who our family used to be. She gave this to me but by the time she did she had forgotten the words.”

    “So do you know more about this tablet?”

   “I wish I did but she never told me. She would always say when it was my turn in due time I would understand more. The only thing I understand is how the stones react when it’s almost touched by bare hands.”

    “You haven’t touched it yourself yet?”

    “Haha ummm no, no I have not. I know you feel whatever that is radiating off of it. Not to speak of it practically coming to life when you almost touch it.”

     “What if that’s what your grandmother meant? What could it hurt to try right?” I peek over at him and see a shocked face.

     “I’m not completely sure what could happen but I think playing around with something I don’t understand doesn’t seem like the best idea.”

     “I’m not saying try to take out the objects, just touch it. I think it should be ok.”

     Leaning back Wyatt rubs the bridge of his nose. “Can you even take a moment and…”

     I grab his hand looking him dead in the eyes. “You’re not doing this alone. We can do this together. If something happens don’t worry William will be back soon. Please.”

     “Oh Riot. Fine together.” He shakes his head and looks towards the tablet.

    I squeeze his hand holding my breath. The wind picks up softly and it carries a whisper with it. With my eyes focussed on it once more, I feel the pull even stronger than before. All else falling away. It’s like I can almost seem the energy radiating off of it. My body moves on its own, my fingertips tingling in anticipation. My eyelids fall close and my fingers make contact.

    A jolt shoots through my body and I inhale deeply. Opening my eyes and I see what seems like pictures but something about them seems off. Above each hangs what looks like a star but all shining brightly in different colors. 

    Looking at the one closest to me to my right is an aqua star hanging above somehow shining directly down at the image. It’s deep in the water with no sea life in it. A single figure hangs there as if she is in the mild of a dive with her back bowed and her feet pointed. Her eyes are closed but she has a look of calm on her face. Her thin dress is tangled with her legs. Somehow the image seems like it's pulsating but the light from the star is steady.

     I turn my attention to the image on my left with a copper shaded star over it. It’s a clearing in a forest. Standing in the center is a single tree. There’s a face in the trunk but as I look closer it’s not just a face. In the trunk in a body that is a part of the tree. The feet seem to be in the ground like the tree's roots. The eyes are closed and the face is emotionless. The ground in the image seems to be pulsating. 

      I look a little up to the one next to it and this one has a red star hanging above it. This one seems to be in a volcano filled with lava very alive. In the center is a figure standing rigidly as if in defiance. Unphased by the lava covering her body. Her eyes wide open as if piercing into my soul. Her chin lifted in expectation. 

     Quickly averting my gaze I look to the image on my fare right. Above it shines a star shining a white shade below is an image in the clouds. Looking as if taking a step down some stare is the woman from my dream hanging in the air. The clouds drape on her body in an elegant manner. Her eyes half open seeming resigned. 

     I take a glance around at each of them realizing I am looking at the spirits. Then there is a flash of light above me and I look up to see a star hanging over my head. It’s not nearly as bright as the others but shining still. this one shines a soft yellow down on me. There’s a whisper coming from the direction of the images and I see that all the figures are looking at me. I go to speak but then everything goes black.

     I’m pulled back to the moment forcefully and I inhale deeply. My head is momentarily spinning slowly settling. I feel a squeeze on my hand and turn my head to find myself staring into Wyatt’s astounded eyes. We sit there like that for a few moments not speaking and not talking. As if stuck in a trance unsure of what might happen if we moved. Still able to touch whatever it was we saw and feel the electricity flowing through us. Not sure how long exactly we sat there like that.

     We are thrown out of trance at the sound of Williams' voice, “Hey, Sophia I’m back. Are you still in the office?”

     Me and Wyatt jolt and scoot away from each other. I blush hard as he grabs the tablet wrapping it back up. He stands up when William opens the door. 

    “Oh, you’re still here.”

   Not paying William any attention he starts to head out the door turning his head only long enough to say. “Sorry, Sophia there’s something I need to do right now. I’ll message you and let you know when I can come back.” Without another word he’s gone in a flash as if he couldn’t stop.

     Puzzled looking where Wyatt just was, William asks “What’s wrong with him? It looked like he saw a ghost. Did something happen?”

     I stand heading to the kitchen in need of lots of food before being able to even start making sense of what just happened. I talk as I walk knowing William will follow me “No nothing happened. I’m starving. Are you hungry? We should eat something.” I start pulling out some food to heat up.

     “Sophia are you ok?”

     “Of course I am silly. I’m just so hungry. I’ll fix us some food. How was mother? I haven’t seen her in forever.” I scramble around the kitchen heating our food and getting us something to eat. The stool scraps cross the floor making a soft sound signaling that William has sat down at the kitsch island.

     “She’s good. Mom and dad are doing well. I’m not sure about Mark though. We haven’t spoken since he moved out after graduating and started dating. Mom misses you too though. Every time I come to hang out with you she practically begs me to bring you home for dinner.” He chuckles at the thought of his mom. “Oh and don’t even get me started on dad.”

      He continues as I fix our plats and sit down listening to him. His voice is filled with such love and amusement talking about his family. On the other hand, I can't even remember the last time I ate a meal with my family. I love them. We just don’t get a chance to do stuff together anymore. The last silly little memory I have with my parents was two years ago I think. Sometimes recently they feel like strangers to me. We’re more like roommates instead of them being my parents. 

    We’re family but then again what is family. With that thought images of moments that aren’t mine but feel so familiar flash through my mind. With them comes a rush of fleeting emotions. Concerned, loving, and sad faces flashes before my eyes. Voices filter through my ears filled with love.

    Slowing down I find I’m standing in a cozy room that makes me feel so comfortable but I, myself have never been here. The walls of the room are filled with family photos. A feeling of recognition and love wash over me at the people in the photos. They don’t seem to look alike but they look very close.

    “Sue, honey. Have something to eat. Whatever you came to talk about we can talk about after you eat.” A sweet voice from behind me says. 

   I feel a hand on my shoulder and my head doesn't turn. Instead, a voice that is not my own comes from my mouth sighing “I can’t stay long mom.” Sorrow and dread swell within me. My head finally turns to look at a beautiful woman with tight curls and a soft round face. At the sight of her worried eyes, I start to speak again “I guess I can talk as we eat.”

    The moment is violently cute short as I’m brought back to the moment sitting at the table with William shaking me. I blink my eyes quickly refocusing on my surroundings. Confused, I look up at Williams' concerned face.”Umm did you say something?”

    The look on his face quickly became very serious and unamused but I couldn’t think of anything else to say. By the look on his face, I can see he has a lot to say but instead just sighs “Sophia are you alright? You never zone out like that. I don’t know if you could even call it that. Did something happen earlier?”

   Unsure of what to say so I just shake my head “I’m ok. At least I think.”