The Edge of Hope

Chapter 15

The smell of roses and tulips filled the air, the gentle wind chasing away the chill on her skin.

A narrow stone pathway lay in front of her and she took one step forward and felt like she floating above the ground. She looked down past her flowing dress and saw her feet were now on a bed of fresh petals.

“Oh,” she breathed. She took another tentative step and just like before, a bed of petals appeared under her foot, creating a soft landing.

She let out a little giggle and started running, spreading her arms out like she was flying.

The wind blew again, blowing her raven hair back and easing the tension in her body. She felt herself gaining speed and a sound of joy escaped. What is this place?

She halted at the voice floating on the wind, going straight to her core and lighting her up from inside.

She placed a hand on her chest and frowned. “What?”

Again, the same voice, slightly closer this time floated around her. She still couldn’t make out the words but she felt drawn to them. She slowly moved forward, no longer interested in the flower petals beneath her or the rolling hills now in front of her, filled with fruit trees, flower bushes and butterflies flying around.

She heard her name multiple times and spun around, suddenly finding herself in a different place. A cemetery.

Her eyes darted around as she took in the setting. A funeral, judging by all the flowers. She rounded around the arrangements and came to a sudden stop at the man in front of her approaching the casket. He looked broken, conflicted and torn.

He was looking down as he placed a tulip under his hand and he whispered quietly. “I should’ve stayed.”

She ran up to him although she had no control over her feet now. The wind pushed her forward and she came face to face with a tall man. A familiar man.

She reached up and brushed his cheek, compelled by a deep feeling she couldn’t explain. The breeze blew again, the smell of flowers filling the air.

“Hope?”

She took in a sharp breath as the name registered in her mind. “Gabe?” she strained through her dry throat. Now she knew who this man was. She couldn’t understand why he didn’t see her. He felt her, but he wasn’t looking at her.

He suddenly turned around and Hope tried to chase after him but her feet were stuck to the ground. She looked down and pulled her legs up and but thorny roots from underneath broke through the ground and wrapped themselves around her legs.

“No!” she screamed as she fell over. She pulled at the roots and tried to pry them loose but they were just cutting into her hands, circling tighter around her.

Another bunch of roots came up behind her and pulled her down onto her back. She was completely trapped. Before she could cry out again, she was violently pulled under the ground and everything went dark and cold.

*****

When she came to again, she stood in a courtyard, one she quickly recognised. She looked inside at all the people gathered, holding glasses in their hands, all with their heads down and looking solemn.

“Thank you for finding the tulips. I couldn’t seem to come right. I couldn’t seem to get anything right.”

She tilted her head and observed the burly man. His heart was shattered. She could sense it. He felt incompetent. It was like she was becoming more aware of everything and everyone around, seeing beyond the surface. She felt that breeze and slowly figured it seemed to be related to her feelings and movements. She held her hand towards the flower bed and swayed her hand back and forth.

They moved in time and she quickly looked up and saw the same man from the funeral. The one who had said her name.

“You’re here, Sal. And as you said, that’s all that matters.”

She stepped closer to him and willed the breeze to blow again. He noticed. A sense of joy flashed through her.

She wanted to brush his cheek again but somebody interrupted and called him back inside.

“Sal,” she said, remembering his name now. She knelt in front of him and held his face in both her hands. He smiled as if he knew it was her comforting him.

“I’ll be back,” Gabe mumbled.

She turned back to Sal and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“No, no. You go do your thing. I’m quite enjoying the wind.”

She smiled and felt victorious. He felt her. He knew it was her.

“Hello, Hope,” he breathed once he was alone. She felt tears slipping down her cheek and she let out a choked sob. One of happiness and disbelief.

She still wasn’t sure what was going on, but all she knew was she had to get to certain people. Show them the wind. She stood up and looked through the glass, trying to see who else was pulling her in.

But again, she was pulled down. She jumped before the roots could grab her feet, but they flew up and wrapped around her arms, the thorns digging into her skin.

She didn’t want to leave. She had to find out what she was doing here. Why she was here. She knew these people but at the same time, she didn’t.

However, the more she fought, the more the roots dug into her. She collapsed from exhaustion and allowed the roots to pull her under again.