by Amanda McGee
Maybe I had changed. Sure, I moped and groaned about their constant hovering but, in truth, I was grateful. Sadie, Blaze, and Kate made me stronger—made me want to be stronger, better. Tristan would always occupy my thoughts and his place in my heart would never diminish but with them around chances were slim that my misery would ruin me completely.
My porch held my fondest memories and favorite days but lately, like every other part of my life, the allure was missing. Sliding into my usual position in the swing, the charm returned. Relaxation set in and the warm, salty breeze lulled me to sleep.
My subconscious was gray, empty, gloomy nothingness. I concentrated on the darkness instead of grumbling at its presence. Suddenly, a light appeared in the center and expanded outward, slow, taking its time. Green grass. Blue sky. Purple flowers! Pushing, stretching my mind to reveal the entire scene, my heart rate increased. There was someone there.
Tristan?
Faster, my pulse pounded. This was familiar. I called out to him, desperate, hopeful. He started to turn in my direction. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach, dizzying and reviving.
“Alex, lunch is ready!”
The scream from inside the house startled me and I rolled off the swing, my sleepy body hitting the porch with a loud thud. Lately, it seemed I spent a great deal of time laying on the ground. But compared to evil witches, broken hearts, and alternate realms, it didn’t even bother me. Until now.
“No!” I cried.
I was dreaming. It was Tristan. I knew it was him without ever seeing his face. No one else made my body react the way he did.
“You coming?” Kate said, popping her head around the screen door.
"He's alive, Kate."
All I had really wanted was to know his fate. I believed in magic, in myself. I believed in love and its all-consuming power. And now I believed that anything was possible.
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About the author:
Amanda McGee currently lives in North Carolina with her brother, Chad, who is probably hovering somewhere nearby making sure she’s staying on task. She is an avid reader and frequent sufferer of book hangovers. Amanda loves connecting with other book enthusiasts on Facebook and Twitter so feel free to strike up a dialogue.
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