• Fireworks in the Dark, The End of a Dream



    It was suddenly dark and silent. I didn't have the sensation of falling, but I knew I was, the fear and torment was there. It was different than falling though, it felt light, almost ethereal. It wasn't long before the light of the openings were gone though. I could imagine my mother screaming into the emptiness, and I wondered what would happen when I hit the bottom... if I ever hit the bottom that was. Would it hurt? This is really the end, there isn't a road for me to take in an eternity of blackness I thought solemnly to myself, Was that whole conversation with Paul for nothing? Would anyone hear me if I screamed? This type of falling didn't give anyone the feeling to scream, but I felt like screaming for help. I didn't want it to end this way. I made to many promises and learned too many things. Should I except my fate? My mother told me that there was no way out anyway. Paul told me that anything was possible though, I just didn't see a way. After all I've been through though I wouldn't give up.

    "HELP ME GOD DAMMIT!!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs grasping upwards. I didn't know what I was reaching for but I never felt more determined to grab it than I did now. Just then I did though, it was a moment of shocking relief. I gasped but only saw darkness; whatever I was grasping was metal and was pulling me upwards. I saw the light of the world I fell from getting larger and brighter as I got closer. I crashed through into the brightness, and my eyes slowly adjusted to the light to see that I was somehow holding on to the wing of a jet plane. It was unreal. I looked through to the cockpit to see a figure, but I didn't know who it was because they were wearing a helmet. The pilot wasn't watching where he was going though, just staring to the side out at me with two thumbs up. It was surprisingly easy to hold on to the wing, but I didn't question, I was just happy. I was really happy. I was happy until the plane plummeted out of control and crashed into an empty office building. Flying off the wing I skipped like a rock on water a few times through the building and then out the opposite window and onto the pavement on the other side. It was true, I did feel the pain of the impact, but I was able to remain conscious since I was already dead. That was something I wasn't too happy about. Lying on my back I rolled over and slowly pushed myself up to see a shining figure bathing in sunlight standing on the remains of the plane, one foot was still in the cockpit but the other was balanced on the front of the plane. The mans left arm was hanging limp and the other was holding his helmet heroically. He was an awesome shadow, back against the sun, I brushed myself off while I waited for my eyes to adjust and focus. When they finally did I got up and chucked a rock at his head, it hit dead on and he fell out of the cockpit of the plane, which was sticking out of the second story window, head first into the grass in front of me. Waiting in an akimbo position I grinned as he slowly got to his feet and I saw Paul grinning back at me.

    "Thanks for the save buddy." I said without removing my gaze and holding my hand in a tight fist at shoulder level.

    "Well if you never reached out it never would've happened. Ya didn't give up even at the bleakest of moments. I'm proud of you Dill!" He cried as he punched the ground slowly getting to his feet.

    "I don't think the crash landing was necessary though."

    "Nonsense! We're Somali pirates! It was definitely necessary!" He cried with his usual logic. I just sat there and laughed as he turned around and walked away into the sunset.

    "Well off to the land of tea! Remember Dill! Always believe there is a way, that's the only way a way will appear!" He shouted as he walked away. I winced as he made the same mistake I had made and fell into one of the empty holes. Sweat ran down my forehead and I scratched at my hair.

    "Ehe, He's a complete moron..." I said to the air. Moments later though he burst out of the hole and into the air with a jet pack strapped to his back.

    "WAHAAAA!!!!! BELIEVE DILL!!! BELIEVE!!!" he screamed as he flew into the distance and disappeared.

    "Yeah, I'll catch ya on the flip side buddy" I whispered to myself as I looked around unable to know where to go next. The feeling that pulled me along this whole time was gone. Suddenly the black spots filled up and everything that was unknown to me in this reflective world was there. Soon I heard the sound of a train and I instantly bolted towards it's thunder without thinking and without knowing why I did. I ran into the distance, past buildings and through fields until at the top of a hill I had never been to before I found a huge train sitting there in a mist of smoke. There were no tracks in sight, but I ran over to it anyway and jumped on to it. There was an intense feeling that this would bring me to where I had to go. Running through the empty train I finally took a seat near the middle just as the train took off. Looking around it, it was very old fashion with nice cushioned coach seats and bright styled designs, a fancy carpet ran down the length of the isle's. Moving my gaze out the window I gasped as lights flew past the window, they weren't my green lights, but they were bright white, like stars. The voice of someone old and wise echoed behind me while i was in my trance.

    "This is a train with only one stop and that stop is wherever ya need to be." The voice rasped. I jumped, turning around and looking into the eyes of an old bearded fella. He had a long crinkly nose and bushy gray eye brows. That's when I noticed that this train was filled with colors which was unlike the tones of the world of reflections. I was speechless. The mans eyes were the most wonderful color of gold.

    "Ya don't need a ticket to ride this train, ya just need to have been enlightened to a certain degree, meanin` ya passed the reflection of yer life. I can tell ya had just by lookin` at ya, cause that's what I can do. I'm the conductor, and yer one of my many passengers." He trailed on and on in an odd way.

    "Yeah, nice meeting you." Was the only response I could think of.

    "The people you've met on your journey to this train were very influential people to your life, but they won't remember anything of the conversations they had with you. Nope, no sir-e! I mean not until they die that is. At that point they'll remember it all, but till then it'll be a blank slate." The man talked on. He was very good at making long conversation it seemed.

    "Why are you telling me this?" I asked a bit exhausted.

    "Well cause that's the type of stuff most a yawl folks are worried about when ya bored the train, so I figured I'd give an answer before ya asked"

    "I see. Well thanks for the information."

    "Oh boy! Isn't this nice, there's another person on this train in the next cart! You two must've been connected somehow, I know cause that's what I can do. Don't ya wanna meet the feller?" The conductor asked suddenly. My eyes widened and I got up to run to the next cart, but the conductor stopped me by grabbing my arm and holding a trinket out in front of me. It dangled beautifully, it was a necklace and looked expensive and mystical. There were intricate designs all along it and in the center of it was a small capsule, and in that capsule was a light like a fire fly, it was one of the lights from the world of reflection.

    "It's a souvenir and its your's. It's the culmination of all of your life's deeds" He said as he dropped it into my hands and walked in the other direction. I stared at it for a moment, it looked incredible. I looked away soon though and bolted towards the next cart over. passing by each seat I looked back and forth looking for her until I finally spotted someone. I saw a little tom boy wearing dirty overall's with big tails.

    "Hey Sophie, you ready to take a journey?" I said as I sat across from her. She nodded with an excited smile and our journey began, wherever that journey was to. I smiled back, I was right. Blue eyes.