To Follow You

CHAPTER 6: THE TRUTH IN DREAMS

That night I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes I saw the shadowy figures from the corner or flashes of memories I'd shared with Erick. Finally around midnight I gave up and got out of bed going to my desk and pulling out a notebook I'd started keeping to write down my dreams.

As I flipped through the pages I noticed something strange – every dream I'd written down since Erick arrived at Westfield High was actually a memory from another life. There was the time we were warriors in a land of magic fighting to protect our people from darkness. There was the time we were scientists working on a machine that could travel through time. There was even a time when we were artists living in a city floating in the clouds.

In every single memory we were in love – and in every single one we were separated by tragedy.

Just as I was reading through one of the entries my phone buzzed with a text message from Erick Liam Smith:

"Can't sleep. Thinking about you. Are you awake?"

I quickly typed back:

"Yes – I was just looking at my dream journal. Erick... they're not dreams are they? They're memories."

A few minutes passed before he replied:

"No. They're not dreams. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Can I come over? I think it's time you knew everything."

"Yes – please come."

Twenty minutes later I heard a knock on my bedroom window. I got up and opened it to find Erick standing on the roof outside – somehow he'd climbed up from the tree in our backyard.

"Erick! You could have just knocked on the front door!" I whispered helping him climb inside.

"I didn't want to wake your parents" he said with a smile. "Plus this is more fun."

He sat down on my bed and looked at the dream journal I'd left on my desk. "So you've been remembering" he said quietly.

"Some of it" I said sitting down next to him. "But not all. Why can't I remember everything?"

"Because when we travel between dimensions our memories get scrambled. It takes time for them to come back. But you're remembering faster than anyone we've ever known."

He took a deep breath and pulled out a small wooden box from his pocket. "I need to show you something. This belonged to you – in our first life together."

He opened the box to reveal a silver locket shaped like a heart. It was worn with age but still beautiful. I reached out to touch it and the moment my fingers made contact a flood of memories rushed into my mind – more clear and vivid than any I'd had before.

I saw us standing in a beautiful garden filled with flowers that glowed like stars. I was wearing a long white dress and Erick was in a dark coat with silver buttons. We were holding hands and he was putting the locket around my neck.

"With this locket you'll always find your way back to me" he'd said. "No matter where we are no matter how much time passes – this will bring us together again."

I pulled my hand away gasping for breath. "I remember... I remember everything now."

"Do you?" he asked gently putting his arm around me.

"Yes" I said tears streaming down my face. "I remember our first life together – how we met how we fell in love how the rift between worlds opened because of the power of our love. I remember how the Keepers of Time tried to separate us how they said our love was dangerous."

"And do you remember what we promised each other?" he asked.

I looked up at him wiping away my tears. "We promised that no matter what happened no matter how many lifetimes we had to live through we would find each other again. We promised that love would always be stronger than fear."

Erick smiled and pulled me closer. "That's right. And we've kept that promise – every single time. We've found each other in every lifetime even when the Keepers did everything they could to stop us."

"But what about the damage we caused?" I asked. "What if we do it again?"

"Then we'll find a way to fix it" he said firmly. "We won't let fear control us this time. We have friends who can help us – Dave Martinez and Elara Rose Smith and others who believe that love is meant to bring worlds together not tear them apart."

Just then we heard a noise from downstairs like someone had knocked over a chair. Erick quickly stood up and went to the window looking out into the darkness.

"They're here" he said quietly. "The Keepers have found us here too."

"Do we run?" I asked standing up beside him.

"We face them together" he said taking my hand. "Just like we always have."

As we climbed out the window and onto the roof three shadowy figures appeared at the edge of our yard. They were taller now their forms becoming more solid as they stepped into the moonlight.

"Daphne May Dawson" the tallest one said his voice like grinding stone. "You must come with us. Your presence in this world puts everyone in danger."

"No" I said firmly standing beside Erick. "I won't go with you. I won't let you keep us apart again."

The Keeper laughed – a cold empty sound. "You think you have a choice? You are nothing but a threat to the balance of all dimensions. We will take you whether you want to come or not."

Before they could move toward us a bright light flashed across the yard. Elara and Dave stood there Elara holding a glowing crystal in her hand.

"You won't be taking anyone anywhere" Elara said her voice strong and clear. "We won't let you hurt them."

The Keepers turned toward them and I could see anger in their shadowy forms. "You are betraying your people Elara Rose Smith. You know what happens to those who defy the Keepers of Time."

"I know what happens to those who let fear control their lives" she replied. "And I choose a different path."

The air around us crackled with energy as the Keepers prepared to attack. Erick pulled me closer but I stepped forward beside him.

"We're not running away this time" I said. "We're going to fight for our love – and for all the worlds that could be brought together because of it."

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My room was filled with things that made me feel safe – paintings I'd done in art class at Westfield High drawings of my friends and family photos of us laughing together. My mom had decorated the walls with warm colors she'd picked out because she said they made everyone feel welcome.

"Your mom is amazing" Erick said looking at the photos on my desk. "She always makes sure you have everything you need."

I nodded smiling. "She says Westfield High is like a second home to her too. She volunteers at the school every week helping organize events and making sure everyone feels like they belong."

We talked for hours about everything – how we'd met at Westfield High how Dave had become like family to us how Elara was always there to make us laugh. My mom had left a plate of food on the kitchen counter earlier and I'd brought some up to share with Erick.

"This is good" he said taking a bite. "Your mom makes the best food."

"She says cooking is like love" I said. "It brings people together."

As we talked I thought about all we'd been through – how we'd found each other at Westfield High how my mom had always supported us how our friends were always there to help. When I looked at Erick I knew no matter what came next we'd face it together.