A Christmas Party

 (Mikey Jay’s Parents when they were younger)

 

 

Beyond the Willow memories are stored, stories are shared. This Christmas may be like all the others but this year we have found our access to the willow hidden in a field of long grass, surrounded by a variety of different trees to give each other our gifts. But there are rules. We must make them, we are allowed to buy material if we need to, but we try to use what our field and the willow gives us.

For Mikey Jay I made a Dreamcatcher made from our very own willow’s vines. Hanging within a little willow charm that matches the charm hanging from my bracelet which Mikey gave me a long time ago in this very spot.  As I sat on the willow’s root waiting for Mikey jay to meet me, I thought about what we needed to get ready for Christmas dinner, the Harris family would be joining us this year.

I heard Mikey walking, before I saw him, as he came around the corner, I caught his facial expression before he could change it to the smile that I loved.

“Mikey!” I stood from the roots of the tree to give him a hug, as he put his arms around me, we started to spin “There is my favorite Dream-Jumper!” As he set me down, he went to reach into his back pocket and he pulled out a rectangular gift wrapped in a beautiful watercolor illustration of the wildflowers from our field, my favorite kind, pink and white cosmos. “Mikey it’s beautiful.”

“It's nothing really, just open it!" My eyes pricked as I carefully unwrapped my gift trying not to rip the painting and inside there was a beautiful journal with an embossed willow in the center of the worn leather binding, laced with none other than willow vines, I am assuming from our tree, within the journal a thin piece of bark to use as a bookmark at closer look carved within the bark were mine and Mikey’s initials, as if this piece of bark was cute directly from where we placed our names on the tree, resting perfectly in between the recycled paper pages, just waiting for me to write our stories.

“Do you like it?” as my heart fluttered, I felt my eyes giving my answer away before I even spoke it out loud. “I love it. It’s beautiful, thank you.” No words could express how much I admired his skills and the love he put into making this gift for me. Mikey’s happiness was all I needed to brighten my days. This is why he is my anchor and my link back home. “My turn!” I walked back to the willow’s roots and picked up the gift I hid for him from between.  As he unwrapped, the store bought, wrapping paper, I held my breath waiting for his reaction. He said no words as he opened the gift, slowly taking it from its holdings to examine the loop made of our willow’s vines, following the cotton twine webbing, trailing his forefinger to the silver willow hanging in the enter as he kept following the webbing down to the hemp twine that held the dried berries, I spent hours tracking down, then drying out to make the beads that now held the multi colored, and sized bird feathers’ I found from around our field. Before he looked up, I could see the emotions he was hiding behind the smile that formed once again upon his face as his chest fell slowly back down. “Do you like it?” I couldn’t help but ask with the mixed emotions which were radiating from him at that moment, even though I knew he would tell me he did either way.

“This is exactly what I needed today.” As he leaned toward me, I felt his breath caress my cheek as he placed his lips quickly against my cheek. As he whispered his thanks in my ear, a shiver ran down my body. kissed my cheek “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” as I turned, I took a breath to calm the feeling that was building inside me. I brought a snack if you want to sit with me at the willow. Flashing the smile that made my heart full.

 “Always, Jess.”  

We sat and ate on the roots of our willow as we took in the surrounding nature, not really speaking much about anything in particular. I could feel Mikey’s emotions were still a little off. “So, what’s up? Anything you want to talk about?”

“Sure. What do you want most for Christmas this year?”

“I don’t know. I will be happy with anything. After your gift, not sure any other gifts could top it.” I tossed over a cookie, like it was one of those Talking Stick. “And you? What do you want most for Christmas this year?”

“I have what I want already.” “Yeah. What’s that?” I felt a little warmth creeping flush into my cheeks as I waited for his answer “Well, let's just say I was thinking about how to tell you the whole way here, on how to broach the subject you know... But seeing that you asked. What I wanted for Christmas this year was you…” I felt my mouth open in response “…r cookies.” I kept it open as Mikey bit the cookie and belly laughed, I couldn’t help but laugh too as I threw another cookie at him. I dropped the subject; I knew Mikey better than anyone and this was his way of avoiding the question. He would tell me when he was ready.

Nowhere near ready to head back to the house, I halfheartedly asked, as I brought my eyes up to look into his, “Do you want to head back to the house?”

Mikey held out his hand “Nah, I think I will enjoy this beautiful day and company a while longer.”

“Okay. I’m down with that.” I grabbed hold. When our hands connected, I could feel the strong sense of longing flowing from him into me which caught me off guard, in a good way. I couldn’t help but smile knowing Mikey and I have grown to be closer over these last few years together. But I pushed away the thought of being so much more.

Silence is sometimes the strongest answer anyone has, silence speaks what words can’t manage.

My Willow charm, which is hanging from my neck today, started to heat up as Mikey and I connected against the willow, calling us back from our own thoughts.

“Jess, do you feel that?”  As I sat up, I could feel the willow calling. “Yeah, I guess it’s time to head back to the Land of White Mist?”

“Are you ready, Mikey?”

“I am if you are, Jess.”

We both stood up from the roots hand in hand taking a deep breath and closing our eyes until we could feel the door opening which would lead us to where we were meant to be. It was like gears of a clock rotating in your head. If you concentrated hard enough you could hear the trick, grind, tock of the clock as you stepped through.  Stepping into the mist we knew we were here to face something about ourselves or to help one of our own escape the In-Between.

But you must remember the In-Between is where silence lies, where fairytales get lost and forgotten and your dreams cease to exist. This is where the Shadows hide.

The Shadows of the In-Between can trap you within your dreams, making it so you are unable to wake. They use your fears against you, trying to break you down so you join their mission to control the dreams of all dreamers. In order to escape you need to keep that which will lead you back to your anchor, pulling you back to your world, to your body. You must make it back before your heart stops beating if you don’t you can be forever lost becoming one of the Forgotten.

That’s where we come in, we are the Dream-Jumpers. We jump into the In-Between, a world between life and dreams, filled with Shadows that flow into your soul pulling your fears from your mind twisting them until you start believing the world you left as you slept, is scarier than you once believed. We hold the key to your survival, but there are rules, we cannot rescue you unless you want to be rescued.

It doesn’t take long before we understand the reason we were called back here. There is a door, upon which a Christmas tree glows, carved into the wood calling out for us to enter. Mikey and I still are holding hands when I feel him plant his feet. At that moment, I got my confirmation about my suspicions of why we were called, and I understand this is for him. This door holds the key to helping him understand whatever he was holding back when he walked up this morning to meet me at our willow. Luckily, we aren’t fighting the Shadows tonight, for the Land of White Mist is a thru way for travelers escaping the Shadows Leading those rescued back home. For those who are rescued but no longer have a living body to go back to are allowed to stay until they are ready to move on. This is also where Dream Jumpers prepare for their fights against the Shadows. It’s Christmas, we don’t need to be away from our families tonight. 

“What do you think is waiting behind this door?”

“Something I need to know before our families get together for this Christmas party, I assume.” This will be what Mikey needs to understand whatever he was struggling with, as always, the willows know when we need help facing whatever may be holding us back.

“Are you sure you want me to go through with you?”

“Yeah Jess, if I had to choose anyone to come with me it would always be you.” I couldn’t help but embrace him before we walked through the door. “Same here Mikey. I am ready when you are.”

            We ended up in a room lit by red, white, and green lights, flashing to a rhythm we couldn’t hear, hung on a full fir tree which was so tall it was close to touching the ceiling. There was a warmth coming from one side of the room which colored the walls a yellowish orange, helping push away the shadows. It looked as if this was one of those holiday parties where you wear your best Christmas sweater, it made me cheerful just looking around the room filled with smiling faces, laughing at jokes we would never know.

“Let’s walk.” We strolled around the party hand in hand waiting to see if anything caught our eye. As we made our way through the crowd, I spotted someone I thought I knew, but it couldn't be because this girl had to be older, she held a bottle of beer shaped as a lava lamp in her hand, as I watched her tip it back.

“Maybe we are here for some party food ideas!” Mikey always cracked jokes when he was nervous. “Yeah. Maybe.” I don’t think pointing the lady at the breakfast bar out would help today. He will notice one his own if that is what we were meant to see.  As we made our way around the food was making me hungry “Maybe we should head outside?” “Yeah, alright. I am ready to get back home so we can eat.” I let out a giggle “What?” “I was just thinking the food was making me hungry.” We both laughed as we walked out the sliding doors to the deck, in the corner of the deck was a hot tub with a few guests, laughing and passing around what looked like a cigarette with no filter. The sky was shining with winter stars. It was beautiful, I looked over at Mikey to see if he too was admiring the night sky, but he was still looking at the group of people in the hot tub with mist floating off their skin. “What’s up, Mikey?” I was met with silence, so instead I decided to try and figure out for myself what he was staring at. At first, I didn’t understand, not until the guy facing away from us turned and grabbed his beer. It looked like I was staring at my best friend, yet this version of him was older, with a mustache no beard, no stubble boarding his face. “Is that your…” “My Father.” Mikey sounded like he was upset with his father. I knew from years of living next door and Mikey running to the willow, that he and his dad never got along very well. Especially after his younger sister, Stella, was diagnosed with cancer. Those years were the worst of their relationship.  

I felt my hand drop as Mikey walked over to the hot tub, I watched him circle it until he was facing the guy that would soon be called father.  I wanted to call out and tell him he can’t hear or see us, we are just witnessing his memories. But I knew that was not what Mikey was trying to do. I think he just wanted to look the man in the face and release whatever pent-up questions he was holding in. So, instead I walked slowly over to the hot tub as he grabbed hold of the side “WHY! How did you even convince her to fall for you?!” I put my hand on his back as he questioned the man in front of him, as he laughed and drank with his pals as carefree as ever. In a defeated voice, Mikey spoke to himself “She deserves so much more…” His father climbed out of the hot tub as we stood there, and the scene changed from him drying his hair with the towel to his father strolling around the party. Then as if the sound were turned on, the party went blurry, yet from what we saw were only the scenes which were in his direct path we clear. Then we heard his father narrating his own memory as if he was going through it in his head:

I strolled around the party looking for someone I may have known, then I spotted her. Hand on her neck, switching which foot she rested on, she looked like she wanted to walk away but she couldn’t find a good reason to excuse herself. So, I figured why not do what I do best and have some fun.  I walked up behind her and put my arm around her shoulder, I felt her jump, like I gave her a start, but as soon as I said, “There you are babe!” She acted as if it was a normal encounter with me. Looking up and smiling as she said, “Hey Hon, have you been introduced to Chad?”  “No, I don’t believe I have,” I held my hand out with a flattering smile “My name is Jim, nice to meet you, Chad.” With a slight squeeze Jim answered back with his own handshake “Nice to meet you too, Jim. How do you know our little Carol?” I felt her shoulders stiffen a little under my arm as he said her name, but before I could answer she spoke “Oh, come on Chad. You know my name is Caroline.” I laughed a bit at the annoyance she was trying to hide behind her smile. “Well, dang. I almost thought I’d been calling you the wrong name this whole time, Babe.” “Yeah, no worries. Chad likes to play games.” With a smirk of his own he held his hands up “Sorry man. All fun and games, had to make sure our Miss North Carolina, was in good hands.”

“Well, I hate to break this up, but I would love it if my beauty queen would come dance with me.” As she flashed the sweetest smile toward Chad, she stepped away grabbing hold of my hand as she went “It was nice seeing you Chad, until next time.” I couldn’t help but smirk at his face as it fell. “Well, that was fun. So, Caroline. How did you find yourself in the company of Chad?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her facial expressions as she rolled her eyes and huffed, “Chad and I went to school together, we used to date.” spinning her around I couldn't help, my smartass, self “Well, seems like he wanted to pick back up where y’all left off.” “Yeah, thank you for rescuing me, Jim.” “My pleasure, Caroline.” She was even more beautiful when she blushed.

We saw the door we came through start to glow; I didn’t think Mikey would want to leave but to my surprise “Let’s go.” He held out his hand with half a smile on his lips, with a spark in his eye.  As we stepped through the door we were back at our willow, but this wasn’t a scene we were familiar with. The field was cut short, there were chairs placed in rows halfway around the willow facing away from the house. Instead of our dirt path we saw grass bordered by flowers and candles inside little mason jars, leading the way in between the guests which were slowly filling in the space around us.

My father was the first to step to the willow alongside him, his best man. They both looked happy and full of life, definitely not the same man I remember growing up. His face was full, his eyes bright. Once in a great while I did catch a glimpse of this man that stood in front of me with those eyes. But the face surrounding was never the same. The father I knew had shallow facial features, worn down by alcohol, sadness and time. He tried to hide it as I grew up, but the older I got there was no more hiding it.  The music started playing, pulling me out of my own head, as the guests turned in their seats. First came the flower girl throwing red and pink rose petals and next to her the ring bearer. I saw Jessie’s eyes as she watched the children walk down the aisle. She was loving this memory. The look in her eyes almost made me forget why we were standing here, and I felt my heart fill, a longing tempting to break through me. As the toddlers made it up to the altar, they split apart. The little boy with the best man and the little girl with the maid of honor. It seemed to me they were, not only my parent’s best friends, but family.

I felt the shift in the air around us, as the small tugs started on my arm and the crowd stood to get a better look up the aisle. The bride, in her flowing white sundress with a crown of tiny babies-breath scattered throughout her hair. She was holding a bouquet of sunflowers, in between, colorful flowers stuck out, she was beautiful. As my mother passed us, I also noticed she was…pregnant.

“She’s pregnant?” I felt Jessie jump as she came back from the scene, “She must be holding you?” “Yeah, maybe.”

The memory ended just as it started, in the Land of White Mist. “Did you get what you were looking for, Mikey?” I watched him as he processed everything we saw. I was curious what he was really searching for and what he was thinking now. But I knew not to push. It was a privilege to be here helping him just as he always did for me. 

Not even a minute into arriving back, Mikey’s face went slack as if he was concentration on something I couldn't see or hear. “Do you hear that, Jess?” “Hear what?” I couldn’t help but whisper back my response because Mikey still looked as if he was lost back in the memories of his parents. 

“Someone calling out?” 

“No, I don’t hear anyone, Mikey?” As he stepped toward the door to the In-Between, I couldn’t stop from shadowing him, I was a bit worried for my best friend, in his state of mind the Shadows hold the power. If they were able to penetrate his fears, he could be lost within the In-Between once again.

“I’m going to go through the door. I need to know, Jessie, will you come with me?” I could see he was holding his breath as his eyes pleaded for my answer to be yes.

“Of course.” I reached out placing both my hands in his “I’ll always come with you, Mikey.”  We approached the glowing door that would lead us to where the Shadows hide, but once we neared the door stopped glowing and refused to let us through. But I knew right away. “I know why it's locked.” Mikey looked back at me “It’s the same reason Sayer couldn’t get through to Liveon. The same reason I couldn’t walk through the veil to find Otis. I let go of Mikey’s hand and stepped back, “I don’t believe I am meant to go.” No sooner than the words left my lips the door started glowing again. “I need you to come with me, Jessie. You are my anchor home. You hold the key to my returning.” I felt that familiar prick behind my eyes as the tears threatened to release. “You got this, Mikey. I will be here until you return.” I laid a kiss upon his cheek, quickly wiping the stray tear from my cheek, as I went to turn away so Mikey would enter, he grabbed my hand pulled me closer and kissed me for the first time, as if  it might be the last time. he energy explored around us charging our energies, and just as quick as it came it dissipated. Then he was gone, disappearing into the In-Between.

Mikey Jay

Stepping into the darkness knowing the Shadows surrounded me, always left me feeling claustrophobic in a way. This time walking through that door, without Jessie, knowing she couldn’t enter with me, means I may not be able to be rescued either, if by chance the Shadows found me. Not getting back to her, after that first kiss we shared, just wasn’t an option I could live with. But I also needed to find out what happened to my father and the only way to do that was to follow the clues given to me and this voice that was calling out for me, must be one of them. 

In the In-Between you are susceptible to succumbing to your fears. The Shadows are there to drag those fears, you hide in the darkest recesses of your mind, to the forefront and mix them with all those hopes you once had there, until they trap you and even the anchor you once had to get back to your world disappears. I will not allow them to take that from me again.

Concentrating on the direction I must go; I could feel the pull. Once you find that pull it's like a magnet leading you to the path that will bring you to the door meant to bring you face to face with what you are searching for. For this jump I am looking for a hint as to what I think that may look like. From the last memories me and Jessie witnessed it must have to do with family, connection, infinity, like two halves to a whole. As I search the darkness, I see a small light shining pushing away the Shadows, the pull of the magnet matching the path I was searching for, as I come face to face with two doors. One with an engraving of a compass, four main points, each labeled with a letter with a smaller point in between each one. The other a mirror image of the other. Either one not giving an obvious hint as to which I need to choose. This is a test, pushing me to choose the door that will lead a step closer to home. I can feel the Shadow creeping in as my skin starts to bump, raising my hairs on the back of my neck. I am running out of time; I have been here too long.

I stepped through the mirrored door, holding my breath, hoping I chose the correct one. It was like stepping into Liveon, the place which held me captive for close to a year as I waited for the one person I needed to see, to come find me. I never expected to be rescued, Liveon messed with your mind, it gives you false peace, feeding you reasons to never want to leave. All I wanted was Jessie, and once she came, I just wanted to stay with her inside a world full of that peacefulness I sought. But this place was surrounded by memories. Surrounded by places I knew, people I loved, I knew right then that this was the door I was meant to choose and all there was left was to seek the soul that called me here.

I heard a voice floating on the wind, but I didn’t see who it belonged to “I knew when I felt your presence and saw the indigo aura surrounding you, that you, too, would be a dream-jumper.” 

“I know you?” I watched a man step out from behind a glitching memory “And I you, Mikey.” As he got closer it clicked, his picture fresh in the front of my mind as if I only just saw him laughing with my parents and his family. “Uncle Neil?”

“I wasn’t sure you would be able to hear my call, but I still held on to hope.” “You called me a dream-jumper; how did you know?” “You come from a world surrounded by dreams and with dreams come nightmares, those nightmares make the Shadows and with Shadows come the protectors of souls. Your father was one, it is only foreseen you would become one, too. But please walk with me, let me explain why I called you here.”

“The world I walked away from plays around me here.  I can see those who visit me, yet I cannot speak, nor can I react to their words. But I still imagine I am with them. I can see my children grow, I can see them cry, I can hear their calls, and yet I cannot ease their pain.  Not that they come very often anymore, but I still wait for them to visit. What hurts most of all is my beautiful Gail thinking this is her fault alone, a burden she can’t let go. What I want the most is to tell her she is not at fault, that it was I who did this to myself.” 

“But you called me? How come you just didn’t call my father? He could have brought you back, he could have helped you see your family again.”

“That, Mikey, is a great question. I think your father is too focused on how to get me out, and not how to help me connect with my fears.” “I don’t understand.”

“Let me try to explain this better. Jim has been trying to get me back for years, but he never could forgive himself for not seeing the signs. So, each time he jumped the Shadows invaded his head, it took all he had to escape. Each time he came he got worse until one night, he stopped coming all together.” I could see he still wasn’t understanding, it was frustrating, but I knew I wasn’t telling the story very well. “Mikey, you know how those who are lost leave their bodies?” “Yes.” “Well, there are other ways to be trapped here and still be with your body.” 

“You said you can see them when they visit, where is your body?”

“I am inside a long-term care facility; I was placed in the psychiatric hospital when the doctors found I couldn’t control my mind. I am lost within my own head, Mikey. And I am not sure how to get back.

Your father found me in the woods near my house, he carried me back home. He checked me over to make sure I wasn’t hurt and when he saw I wasn’t he knew what had happened. I jumped, but when I didn’t wake up, he came looking for me. When he found me, I wasn’t ready to go back. That story I will leave for another time. But your dad wouldn’t take no for an answer, he took me out of the In-Between but when he woke, I was barely alive. He called an ambulance and while he waited for it to get there, he kept calling out to me, telling me to wake up. I could hear him calling me back. I could hear him in my head, yet I couldn’t yell back. I couldn’t even move. It was like I was paralyzed from top to bottom. Days later I was diagnosed with dissociation, an illness that affects the way you think, it is like your mind stops sending waves to the rest of your body like you are no longer one, within yourself. I need to be under 24/7 surveillance and care. So, there I sit. Fear slowly killing me, and here surrounded by the love I want back desperately but no fear to be found. ``

I could see the fear in Mikey’s face as I told my story, it was just like his fathers was when he realized what had happened. We are never told when we jump what to expect. We learn as we go, find other Dream-Jumpers along the way, and hear their stories. But splitting a soul? No one knew what would happen when we try to rescue a soul. We just know they must agree to be rescued; they must want to go back.

“My soul is split between both worlds. I can see what is happening out there, but I can’t get back. Instead, I stay here trapped, viewing my life as it passes me by.” 

“I think I understand my father more now. Thank you for telling your story. I also think we can free you once and for all.”

“I’m listening.”

Mikey Jay

                I wonder if I can call Jessie from here. I need to run a few thoughts on how to achieve this rescue. I close my eyes, inhaling and exhaling until my mind feels like it is floating as I reach out to see if I can connect to her from here. “Jessica Grace. Please Jessie I need your help.” I try a few more times to reach out and find there is no use. She cannot hear me here. “Uncle Neil, I need to throw out a few ideas, please just bear with me.” “I have nothing but time my boy, nothing but time.”

                “Have you tried calling yourself into the In-Between. Instead of trying to escape here?”

“That would be suicide, Mikey. My other half is my fear. If I call it back to the In-Between the Shadows would swarm. There will be no soul left to connect back too.”

“At this moment you do not have another choice other than staying here, trapped.”

“But if we can escape this room, the Shadows won’t be able to sense me, there is no fear to feed off of.”

“Yes, but you cannot connect to yourself in that realm. You must do it here. In order to escape you need to face your fears. That is the only way someone can be Fully rescued. Just remember you do not have any fear left inside you to be too scared to try.”

“I don’t need to hold fear of failure when I have the logic behind that plan understood enough to know that would be the death of me.”

“Logic is all you need to defeat the Shadows and help yourself escape. You are your own key Uncle Neil. You hold the key to find your way out; your mind is what is stopping you…Trapping you within their memories that play around us now.”

I saw the logic my uncle spoke of turning within his eyes. “How can I do that? I have been trying for years to get through that door.”

“Find your anchor and don’t let go.”

“I’ve tried that, Mikey.”

“Yes, but you didn’t have the key, now you do. You have me. I can walk out of here whenever I want.”

“I’m listening. What is the plan to find my other half?”

“I’m going to follow the door that will lead me to it. Now concentrate.”

Upon approaching the door which will lead me to Uncle Neil’s fears, I braced myself for the unknown.

I was about to lead my uncle right to the Shadows and pray that this would release his other half from its prison, so he could once again face his fears. From there he must face his fears and get himself home before his body gives out or the residence inside notices he isn’t waking up.  Entering the dreams of a person with a split soul is more like a nightmare. Worries playing over and over until it stops being a worry, but instead a false reality that you now believe is true.  Once the door is cracked the Shadows have easy access into your mind. The emotions flowing off my uncle’s fears are so intense; I feel my body shutting down from the overwhelming emotions surrounding us.

I can only hope our plan works for my uncle’s sake, along with his family and especially my father.  I can feel the Shadows weighing me down, the pressure building on my chest is making it hard to breathe. I try to fill my thoughts with my anchor as I reach into my pocket and hold tight to the willow dream catcher Jessie made for me.  I try to close out the Shadows and the emotions as I concentrate on my light. The charm in the center was starting to warm up and as it did, I could feel it fighting against the throbbing pain in my head. Slowly I find the energy to crawl toward the door which will lead me back to The Land of White Mist, back to Jessie. “Mikey…” I can hear her in my head as I make my way back “jess, i can hear you, keep talking.” “My charm Mikey, it is heating up. I can feel you calling me.”

                “I’m almost there Jess. Thank you.” Stepping through the door alone, I hold hope that my uncle will meet me here to go over, step two of our plan to reunite his two halves. 

Before I could call her name, I was practically tackled. “Mikey!” It took all I had left to keep on my two feet. “Hey Jess. You miss me?!” I felt her arms tighten “After that goodbye I didn’t know what to expect. “Her words were rushed as she tried to get out her words “Then the charm started glowing and heating up…” I stopped her with another kiss, this time it was a little longer.  I unwrapped my arms from Jessie and replaced them with my hand, I think I would like our willow roots. You think we can summon the tree here?” I was kind of joking, yet really hoping we could, but once her face lit up, I knew the answer “Oh, I know we can. Just close your eyes and wish!”

With a deep breathe I pictured the willow as I wished for the energy the willow brought. Before I even opened my eyes, I knew it had worked. Jessie was pulling me down to sit on the roots I had just conjured up. “I think I can get used to this place.”

Resting my head against the willow’s bark I could feel the positive energy flowing through me, what was lost was now being replenished and it felt great.

“So. Did it work?” Turning my head toward Jessie I waited for her to finish her question, “The jump. Did you find what you were looking for?” Nodding my head, I launched into what I had found during my jump. “When he is able to walk through the door that has been his imprisonment for all these years, he is to come to us here. I explained to Uncle Neil how we found this land and how it was you who brought it to life.”

As I finished my story, Jessie surprisingly had only one question, “Now we just wait?”

“Yup.” She settled in as she spoke “Then let us wait.” This moment was the confirmation I needed to start thinking of how and when I was going to tell Jessie, that I loved her. Then I can get an answer to what I can feel building between us. Confirmation that she loves me back.

 

Waiting in the mist for my uncle to arrive was a slow struggle of nerves.  I didn’t go back to check on him once I handed the Shadows his fears, it took all I could just to escape myself without being trapped.  Jessie was quiet the whole time I explained to her what I had found when I stepped into the In-Between, from finding two doors, to a world surrounded by memories, to finding my uncle and learning that if we aren’t careful, we could split someone’s soul. In turn leaving them with half a life in our world and the other half trapped within their dreams. 

Then it happened, the mist swirled around us and someone stepping through the door, as the mist cleared, I found Uncle Neil wide eyed and smiling, finally released from his memories. 

“It worked!” We embraced quickly as I introduced him to Jessie. “I am happy to meet you sir.”

“Thank you for helping my nephew make his way in to rescue me. And Jess, please call me Uncle Neil.”

“So, Uncle Neil, do we understand the plan?” As he paced in front of us, I could see he was thinking about the plan. “Yeah. But we have a short window of time before I will be unable to retrieve myself from the Shadows’.”

“It’s okay, time differs here. Once I get back you will need to concentrate on finding the door that will lead you to my father’s dreams. Once he sees you, he wouldn’t fight it, he will come help you face your fears.”

“He doesn’t sleep soundly, Mikey. The Shadows scare him.”

“Don’t worry about that I will handle that on my end. He will sleep sound tonight. I will also be watching for any signs you need help; I won’t leave you defenseless Uncle Neil, nor will I leave my dad if he needs help facing this, too.”

“I’m not worried about that, I trust you. I can already see you are a strong match against this world. And that is not the no fear talking.”

“Cracking jokes, now I know you all are family.” I shoulder bumped Mikey as we laughed, mostly to ease the tension that this plan left within us. There are so many different ways this could go and a few of them are not in anyone’s favor.

 

Stepping back through the door from the Land of White Mist, for a brief second, we watch our still bodies lying against the willow’s trunk. We looked peaceful laying there with our hands together. Seeing yourself from the outside looking in, no matter how many times you see it, it never becomes less surreal.  

Once we stepped back into our bodies we woke. As we looked over at each other, I saw that Jessie held a shyness upon her face that I wasn’t used to. All I could do was stare at her, as I pictured her becoming something more than my best friend. 

“Are you ready to get to the party?” We didn’t mention what happened in the Land of White Mist before the jump nor when I arrived back from my trip to the In-Between with no other than my father’s best man following close behind me. Unfortunately, he had been lost for so long he didn’t have a lot of time left to get back to his body. 

“Yeah, I’m ready.” We walked back to our houses and went our separate ways to get ready for the Christmas party.

Jessie

                Walking through the door, my stomach started to growl louder, the aroma that was flowing through our house smelled like heaven.  Christmas meals were always my favorite, and this year was no different, if not better. We were going all out because we were having the Harris family over.

Walking into the dining room, I found the table, already, lined with plates and bowls of stuffing with cranberries mixed inside, a cranberries side, fried okra, fresh baked cornbread, and mixed greens, in my mother’s best China. On the buffet cabinet that lined the wall sat pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, cheesecake with cherries and blueberry toppings in small bowls beside it and my favorite lemon meringue! From the kitchen the smell of ham grabbed hold and led me in to where my mom stood making sure everything was perfect before our guests arrived. “Don’t touch the ham, Jessica. I already had to kick your father out of here, don’t think I won’t boot you too.” “I wouldn’t dare touch that ham, mom!” I smirked of course I was going to sneak some ham, just as soon as she turned her back to me. “I can still see you dear.” “Mom! How do you always do that?” “I’m a mother dear, we see everything.” We both started laughing as she turned to hand me a piece of ham, kissed me on the forehead and then proceeded to kick me out as promised.  Walking out of the kitchen the doorbell rang and I knew Mikey was outside with his family. “Coming!”

“Welcome everyone, I am so happy to see y’all.” I held the door and showed them in, first up was Caroline “Hello hon, we brought green bean casserole.” “Thank you, Mrs. Harris. My mom is in the kitchen. Next in was Mikey’s dad, I nodded politely “Mr. Harris.” As I showed him in, “My dad is in the Living Room, I think he is watching a game. Then came my favorite neighbor “Hey Stella.” Embracing her as I spoke “How are you doing!” “I’m good.” “I think you can sneak some ham from the kitchen if you are sneaky enough.” With a wink in her direction, I smirked. “Stell, don’t forget the biscuits and gravy.” Handing her the dish, Mikey looked up at me and gave me his famous bear hug.

“You want to sit on the porch swing with me, while we wait for everyone to settle?” “Of course. Never letting go of my hand one I slid out of his bear hug; he led the way. As we sat down, I looked at Mikey waiting for him to tell me what happened when he went home, “So, did you say anything to him?” moving his head back and forth “Nah, I think I will let his best friend tell him tonight.” As Mikey put his arms on the back of the swing, I leaned into him “That sounds like the best plan yet.” 

I sneaked into my father’s room and placed the willow dream catcher from Jessie, on to his bed post. Knowing my uncle would be reaching out to him tonight. It is time he finished helping his best man face his fears within the In-Between.  It is about time they both faced each other and understand that they are stronger working together than against themselves and each other.  That is the best gift I could give my father and myself this Christmas year.

 

The End