Return to the Meadow

Chapter One: Overload

Liza’s head was pulsating with a whirlwind of thoughts. She couldn’t believe what Gabriella had just revealed to her. The weight of this newfound knowledge threatened to topple her already fragile mental state. As she clutched onto the edge of the armrest, her hands trembled in disbelief.

Gabriella, her mentor and guide on her spiritual journey, had just dropped a major bombshell: Liza was gifted with the power of the universe. Whatever that meant. The enormity of this revelation sent Liza’s mind spiraling into a chaotic frenzy as she grappled with its implications. How could she, a simple young woman, be entrusted with such an imaginable power?

As Liza absorbed the information, she found herself overwhelmed by a wave of questions flooding her mind. What did it mean to possess this power? How was it even possible? And most importantly, why her?

With trembling lips, she managed to utter, “But… but why didn’t I know before… why didn’t I feel this power within me?”

Gabriella’s eyes brimmed with a mixture of compassion and sadness, mirroring Liza’s own turmoil. She gently reached out and clasped Liza’s quivering hands, comforting her in this unnerving revelation.

“Liza,” Gabriella began, her voice soothing and steady, “the truth is both extraordinary and overwhelming. You see, your soul is on its final incarnation. You are the culmination of countless lifetimes, each one shaping and preparing you for this very moment.”

Struggling to keep her composure, Liza tilted her head up to face Gabriella. The woman’s eyes held a deep well of ancient wisdom, her voice filled with tenderness and urgency. Gabriella spoke of destiny and the final reincarnation of Liza’s soul, causing a shiver to run down her spine. The significance of this moment was not lost on her.

As Gabriella’s words echoed in her mind, a sense of both excitement and worry coursed through Liza’s veins. The weight of the Universe on her shoulders felt almost too much to bear. She had always felt there was something about her, a deep yearning for a purpose beyond the ordinary, but now faced with this extraordinary destiny, doubt and uncertainty crept into her thoughts.

Thoughts of going home, to a place of safety, tugged at her consciousness, each thought growing louder as the burden of these newfound revelations grew heavier. Liza could feel the strain of these revelations clawing at her sanity. It was as if a dam had burst within her mind, flooding her thoughts with questions and doubts that threatened to drown her reason. How could she possibly carry the weight of this knowledge?

Every fiber of her being longed for the sanctuary of her own home, a place where her thoughts were unburdened, and her heart felt at ease. She desperately wanted to be with her husband, Nate. To be held in his strong arms, and to lay her head against his chest. If she closed her eyes and tried really hard, Liza could recall the sound of his heartbeat. Which, for the past 8 years, has been the only sound that calmed her nerves and silenced her thoughts.

Gabriella watched Liza closely, the lines of concern etching themselves deeper into her face. She understood the overwhelming heaviness that had settled upon her apprentice, for she too had once been at the brink of despair. But Gabriella knew that now, more than ever, they had to stand united. There was no turning back; their purpose demanded perseverance, even when Liza was unable to comprehend the importance.

"Liza, I understand that the weight of these revelations is heavy," Gabriella said, “but leaving now would be like abandoning the puzzle when we are so close to completing it."

"But," Liza’s voice was quivering with a mixture of fear and frustration, “it’s a lot, a bit too much. You can’t expect me to just go along without questioning any of this, to just blindly follow your lead. I never asked for any of this. I don’t know what’s happening, what I’ve gotten myself into. I just want to go back to the life I had before.”

Gabriella sighed, her gaze fixed on the floor as she carefully chose her words. "I understand it’s a lot for you to digest, but I wouldn’t have told you any of this if I wasn’t completely sure about it. I fully believe it's the truth. The whole truth. And I am here to help. If you…”

“No,” Liza interrupted, “I think it’s enough for today. I want to go.”

Liza felt like the very ground beneath her had shifted, leaving her standing on unsteady terrain. Her mind whirled with a tornado of emotions, leaving her overwhelmed, anxious, and downright panicky. Waves of adrenaline surged through her veins, making every heartbeat feel like a loud pounding in her ears. Liza struggled to catch her breath, her chest feeling tight as if someone had clamped a vice around it.

The news that had been dropped on her was not some insignificant tidbit; it was a life-altering truth that shook the very foundations of her existence. Everything she thought she knew, every assumption she had made about her past, her present, and her future, had been shattered in an instant. The enormity of it all threatened to engulf her entirely.

She found herself in a mental labyrinth, her thoughts racing down winding paths, each leading to a different unsettling scenario. Would she be able to cope with this new reality? Could she handle the responsibility that came with such knowledge? In a desperate attempt to make sense of the situation, Liza tries to convince herself it’s all fake. A story made up by a crazy person. The rational part of her brain is summing up a massive amount of reasons why Liza should know she’s being tricked by Gabriella, a fraud.

Still, a part of her is silencing her rational thoughts, a part of her embraces every word like it's the truth. A truth that has been waiting to be heard, captured in a time capsule that was long overdue to be opened.

Her head was spinning and although she’s depended on her capability to think rationally most of her life, she couldn’t deny that aching part inside of her that seemed to be expanding into a hot ball of energy, racing through her chest. A sensation similar to one she’d felt many times before and whilst Liza had every excuse to have a massive panic attack, this felt different. Trying to regain control, Liza clutched at straws of familiarity. She reminded herself that she was still the same person and that this revelation did not change who she was at her core. But the more she repeated these affirmations, the more they seemed like fragile shields against the tumultuous storm raging within her. Commanding herself to take a few deep breaths, focusing on expanding her belly whilst doing so, Liza managed to pull herself together.

Finally finding the strength to silence her thoughts and ignore the pulsing sensation as if her heart was to be blown out of its place, Liza stood up and looked Gabriella straight in the eye. “I need to go.”