Savanah's Book

Savanah walks into Chestnut library half-drunk and half-sober with her hair all over her head. She’s a tall brown skin woman with hips to match. If you asked her, she'd tell you everything was under control. But she'd soon learn that the journey of a thousand miles started with one step. And the only person that would be able to save her was herself.

Savanah has had a drinking problem since she was twelve years old and she was now on twenty-two. But just because she could handle a bit of liquor in her system didn’t mean she had it all under control. Her mom had a drinking problem when Savanah was twelve. To get away from the perils of home she would go to the library. There she could read and get away from the unfit life she faced. To take the edge off she’d drown herself in a good book and some good liquor.

Savanah cups her hand and brings it to her face. “Horrible” she contorts. Last night she was itching for a mystery read, and there she stood right in front of one. It was called Time To let go. “That’s an interesting name for a mystery book. It’s Perfect” But let go of what she thought. As she reaches for the book the contents of the room began to fall away. The books shelves melted like candle wax, and the books were on fire lit ablaze like the pits of hell. She loses her footing and is pulled under. When she awakes, she is in a place that's not familiar to her. As she struggles to open her eyes, she notices it’s gotten colder and her shirt is wet. “HELLO ANYBODY KNOW WHERE I AM?” she yells, when a figure appears before her. The figure is tall with black curly hair spread out all over her head, and hips to match. As Savanah is preparing to get up and run a hand reaches out to her. “Get up,” the voice says. “You need to come with me or you’ll die out here.” She takes her hand but when she is pulled up, she realizes she is face to face with herself. She bolts for it across the frozen pond running fast and hard. It all comes to a halt as she slips on the ice and crashes face first into the frozen ice below. Savanah is out cold.

When she wakes up from her long nap she is now in a room. The fire is burning brightly into her pretty brown eyes. As she looks down, she notices there’s a thick blanket laid onto her body giving her warmth. That’s a feeling she's never felt. She decides she’s safe, but the figure she saw this morning begins walking into the room again. “Why did she look exactly like me?” Savanah thought. The strange woman sits beside her, and they are now staring at each other face to face. “Who are you?” Savanah says hastily. “I am you Savanah but a year into the future. I see you found the book!" “Wait, Savanah gets up, and is ready to stand when the room begins to spin again. This time it’s her head. Suddenly she is weak and falls to the floor. Right before her eyes the world is fading again, only this time where will she awaken?

When she wakes her head is throbbing and her mouth is dry. Savanah looks up to find that her older self is in the same place and so is she. “I am one year older than you Savanah and you came to me through that book you found at the library called Time To Let Go. The book explains why you came here. I need you to understand Savanah I am here to help you. There is something you are dealing with Savanah, something heavy and I know it hurts. I know that you drink yourself to sleep every night, and that you’re single still but don’t want to be. I know that you are not happy with the state of your life, I’m here to help you. I am you in the future Savanah, and this place is called Manasia. Right now, your body is at the library sleeping near the book shelf. But in your mind, you are here in Manasia. But make no mistake you are actually somewhere different. That’s why you’ll feel this." Older Savanah pinches younger Savanah and she retracts her arm. “Ow that hurt! Ok I believe you, but how exactly are you supposed to help me?” “I hate to tell you this Savanah but, the only way you can access this world is if you are dying. And you found the book, so that could only mean death is knocking at your front door."

Savanah jumps up “So, you mean to tell me this place is real, and I’m actually here but the only reason I'm here is because I'm dying!” “How long do I have to live?” “You have as long as you want Savanah.” “You are dying because of the drinking but you're not going to die if you change. I’m here to tell you how to work through your current issue so that you don’t die.” “So, I'm in a coma?” “No Savanah you are in a portal. The book sent you here but you can go back whenever you want. All you have to do is say Time to let go in the mirror and you will be transported back into your body.”

Savanah runs to the bathroom and locks the door behind her. She looks into the mirror but before she can say the words time to let go, there is a knock at the door and a letter is slipped underneath. She picks up the letter and looks into the mirror. “Time to let go.” she says looking into the mirror. The room begins spinning and she is back at the library. Savanah returns home and rips open the envelope and reads the letter hastily.

Dear Savanah,

You are losing yourself in the bottle, I know that the voices inside your head are talking to you pretty reckless right now. But I also know that you are stronger than you think you are. I know that Mike down the street likes you a lot and that you should give him a chance. Love is a pretty sad thing to waste. And you I know now he won’t leave like dad did. His love is healing and that’s what you need. That and to get laid. Stop pushing him away. He’s your future, and you are his.

Sincerely

Savanah,

Two years later...

“Wait!” she calls out after Michael “I have something to tell you and it's really important! I went through this portal in this book and it took me to see my future self, I was there but a year older. And I gave me this letter.” She hands him the letter but when he begins to read it, he suddenly has a disgruntled look on his face. Is this a joke Savanah? There’s nothing on here!” “I love you ok.” She mutters as she begins to feel weak and falls to her knees. He catches her before she hits the ground and the realization that she might die washes over him "I love you too.” He grabs his phone from his pocket and quickly calls the ambulance. As they wheel her away, he quickly jumps into his car and drives down to the hospital to be with her. She’ll be fine the doctors tells him.

Michael rushes full speed to her hospital room. It’s at this moment he realizes that this woman he has always loved. When he gets to the room, she’s awake. He rushes to her side and gives her a juicy kiss on the lips. “I love you Savanah and I never wanna lose you. You are everything I have ever needed. And everything I will ever need. I want you to have my babies and walk around naked like you do. I want to make sweet love to that same body every night. You see Savanah without you there is no me, I am nothing.” A teardrop falls from Savanah’s eye as she pulls off the cords and wires attached to her body. She wraps her arounds around Michael's neck and embraces him and in his ear she whispers. “I’ve loved you too Michael, I was just too afraid to tell you.”

Five years later a sober and level headed Savanah walks into Chestnut library. Her hair in a ponytail that really compliments her face. Hips like the sun big and bright. She walks over to the book shelf where she once stood. There it sat, the book that changed her life. She picks up the book and reads the back but it simply says “To be continued” and the beginning says.

Dedicated to:

The most incredible woman I know. Who’s stronger than she knows and more fearless than she gives herself credit for.

Savanah closes the book and grins to herself widely. When she stands up Michael is standing right beside her. He kisses her as she throws her arms around him and they kiss.

To be continued...