The Mirrored Marigold

Chapter One

It was not the black forest that swallowed Stuart up as he fell from his horses back. Nor was it the unexpected tightness that he felt in his chest. It would be what came for him after, that forever changed this cowards fate. You see even in death, some endings are just the beginning...

The light held its gaze on the ground that stretched itself beside the river. A sacred place to help remind the wandering eye of natures beauty. Giant oak trees witnessed their strong roots as they deeply cradled the life below. The stirring water and the soft soil. Brightness settled on every fragment of Earth, revealing the unnoticed. Sun rays pushed the leaves as if embodying the Earths perfume. Each moment fell into a stillness that echoed a rhythmic change. The clear water shifted and turned until it met a circular like pond where a dewy mirror hovered above. A fresh inhale greeted the ground as a spirit glided down the waters path. Making its way to natures reflection. Figures in robes lined each side of the river, endlessly. As a young woman, with long brown hair floated above the blue, then met her mirrored abyss. With a voice was so sure and true, she looked within, “I don’t want to be here, I want to go home and live! Please let me live!"

In her clenched hand was a petite marigold flower, the symbol of death and love. As she gripped the flower she peered into the mirror, a single figure appeared next to her. Without any visible reason, her vessel started to change colors, from bright crimson to the most extraordinary shade of amber. Her emotions pulsed through each fleeting aura. Call this what you will, but as the magic cries or prayers were spoken, the woman floated no longer and softly sank into a souls eternal bliss. Leaving behind the golden flower.

“Stuart? Can you hear me?” An unfamiliar voice jolted him from this most heavenly and strangest of dreams. He felt he was being shaken, around his shoulders. Then, once more. What a strange dream, he thought. As he came to his eyes met two very unfamiliar green eyes.

“Stuart, there you are! You need to wake up.” The stranger with glowing skin was inches from his face.

“Uhm, who are you? Where am I?” Stuart was surely still dreaming.

“I am an Angel, but you may call me Tim. Whatever you please, really! You are in a place called The Fates, yet I am afraid we don’t have much time. Really only seconds. Please, sit up!” He paused, “By the way, you’re not dreaming.”

“Time for what?” Stuart felt a gush of confusion. Isn’t he in charge of his dreams?

Tim spun his hand and to Stuart’s horror he was lifted vertically to the most unbelievable sight. His eyes adjusted to the brightest of his surroundings and he felt lighter than air. Literally. As he floated he looked down and noticed his bare feet instead of his boots. A robe instead of his ranch attire. Under his feet was the purest water, just rippling and swooshing. He felt like he was in the middle of the ocean with all these waves surrounding him. He looked as far as he could to the right and then to the left, and was met with an endless seascape of sea. Receeding and coming back to him, almost haunting with each tone of blue. Not one looking the same from light blue to dark.

“The ocean before you is symbolic of your lack of emotions. This is your life lesson. To learn empathy.” He paused breifly and softly looked to Stuart, as if studying his self inflicted wounds.

“You have been blessed with a second chance, my friend. As The Fate’s would have it, you did not die when your heartattack occured. Your physical body is in a coma, on Earth. And that young woman you saw? Well, it is your adventure to find out! You have collected many contracts to go back down to Earth to unveil. Now, come with me.” Tim met his eyebrows with a soft smile.

Stuart knew each who that these contracts consisted of. The Angel’s voice hummed the words as Stuart looked down at the water. Why would anyone want to go back to those they had wounded so deeply? He is unforgivable. He should just die.

“Well, why don’t we ease your worry and get you on your way? To reintroduce yourself to that young woman? Along with the others. Also, no dying yet, nice try.” Tim and Stuart made their way along the waters path. The mirror met Stuart’s cowardly frame.

“Stuart, for this to work you will need to look at yourself in the mirror. All will be well. The way you treated others on Earth, needs to be righted. I promise that you will wake up.” He then placed his hand on Stuarts shoulder and nodded in the direction of the mirror. As the memorized round began the air all around him changed. He was floating directly in front the mirror, which seemed to swallow him whole.

“It is time. Be true, Stuart.” Tim placed his hand on the back of Stuart and stepped away.

Stuart looked at his barefeet, and then back to the water. The pounding of his rapidly beating heart inspired him to gaze at his refelction. I guess I could give it a try? Then the silence cut through him like glass as he immediately started to feel these foreign emotions. He was changing colors, internally and outwardly. Black to blue then to a firey red. He felt joy, and sadness, shame and bliss. But, how would he do it? How could he mend everything?

As Stuart peered into the mirror, he inhaled all his doubts and exhaled his hope.

"Take me home.”