Trapped in the Present
He opened the door with his key,
dropping it in the bowl on the desk inside. Sighing, he loosened his
tie. His gaze caught his eye in the mirror. Dress shirt, red tie,
hair perfectly in place. For a moment, he glimpsed beyond the
reflection. Armour. Sword. His brothers in arms behind him. Reaching
a hand out, his fingertips grazed the glass. Maybe he could reach
what he could not see. Memories tugged at his heart. Forested
expanses, teeming with dangerous creatures. A dragon, flame spewing
from it's teeth. Jokes around a fire, shields leaning up against the
logs. A fair maiden, reached on tiptoe to give him a gentle kiss on
the cheek. For a moment, he
could almost feel the wind through his hair, the leather boots on his
feet, the scent of pine in the air. Every day, he vowed to remember
his old life. Perhaps there was a clue that he missed, something that
could take him home again.
A knock shook him
out of his thoughts. He opened the door. “Hello?” A woman looked
up from her position on his doorstep. His eyes involuntary widened.
Saliva dried in his mouth as his breath hitched. The fair maiden
smiled with the lips that had kissed his cheek. “Alexander...it's
been so long.” Alexander swallowed. He struggled for something to
say. The woman smiled wider, sensing his distress.
“I asked Merlin
if I could follow you. I'm afraid,” she laughed, “that I'm a few
years late.”
His heart
constricted. “Wendolyn...”
“Alexander,”
she whispered, rushing to hug him. He automatically caught her,
holding her tightly. He closed his eyes. The memory of the forest and
castle sunk into his soul, settling amongst the silt of regret. For a
moment, he felt peace.
“Hello?” The
voice made him open his eyes. A postman stood at the door, holding a
package. “Package for Mr. Alex? You okay?”
He shook his head,
clearing the fantasy. “Thank you.” His hands automatically
received the package, and shut the door. This had to stop – the
daydreaming. But how could they, when it was where he truly belonged?
In an instant, Alexander's heart collapsed with nostalgia and
longing. His legs crumpled, sending him crashing to the floor. A sob
worked his way up his throat, choking him. He prayed, words fervent,
“Almighty God, take me away from this hell. Bring me back to where
I belong, Oh God.” Tears spilled onto the package he still held.
Ripping it, he tried to bury his emotions. Never before had his
dreams seemed so real. It almost as if he could touch her....
But lo! As if his
dreams had become reality, in his lap lay the shredded paper, and a
lady's handkerchief. One he had seen waving to him on every
departure. And on a note buried inside it - “I'm coming,
Alexander.”
Hope you guys liked it!
~Tigerr
