A Castle Made Of Dreams

WHEN THE FAMILIAR buildings of Wallace’s hometown came into view once more, he felt both a rush of nostalgic relief as well as a stabbing reluctance. The winds of the city landscape couldn’t be compared to what he had felt in Neverland. It wasn’t as strong, yet much colder, and it brought about a chill that seeped into Wallace’s bones.

For once, his hometown seemed foreign to him.

Paige didn’t have a clue where Wallace stayed. After all, he had only ever met her when he was returning home from his workplace and at that same workplace. As such, the only place Paige could drop Wallace off was at the little pub Wallace told stories at for a living, now closed with only the street lamps to guide the way.

The broom slowed to a stop, hovering above the gravel road, waiting for Wallace to jump off. However, his arms couldn’t seem to unwrap themselves from Paige’s torso. Instead, he only grabbed on tighter, suddenly wishing that he hadn’t requested to come home at all. However, they were already at their destination and spoken words could never be retracted.

In the end, Wallace was the one that wanted to go home and Paige simply granted his desire.

“We’re here,” she gently urged after a while of silence, refusing to look back. “I’m sure you know the way back home on your own.”

Slowly, his arms slackened. “Will the kids be alright? At the orphanage?”

Paige turned, looking over her shoulder at him. “Of course. We’ve been taking care of children for a very long time. They’ll be fine.”

“And the mermaids? Will they be safe from the pirates?”

“Some mermaids are deadlier than pirates. But I’ll keep them in check. I’ll make sure the pirates keep to their side of the island.”

“And you?” Wallace’s voice wavered. He climbed off the broom, walking forward so that he could see Paige’s face clearly. “Will you be alright?”

Her eyes widened in surprise, eyebrows stretching so much that it skimmed her forehead and reached for her hairline. She blinked once, then twice, before softly smiling.

“This isn’t goodbye. Someday, we’ll meet in the stars.”

Paige reached out to comb back a section of hair that had fallen into Wallace’s eyes, brushing it behind his ear. However, her touch lingered on his cheek, cupping it tenderly.

“Promise me you’ll retain that wondrous innocence, Wallace. There is bravery in the young that grown-ups refuse to acknowledge. They abandon so many dreams as they age, all left forgotten while they grow old and haggard. Adults forget to dream. Some might argue that they don’t even dare to.”

When she pulled back her hands from his face, that last bit of warmth left Wallace’s body along with her fingers. She drew back, more emotionally distant than ever before. There was a wall which Paige had constructed and it was soaring so high it scratched at heaven’s door. Wallace didn’t think there would be a chance for him to bring it down any longer.

“Promise me?” She whispered, holding out her pinky finger for Wallace to hook. “That you’ll always tell those stories with the same childish wonder.”

He took it immediately, intertwining both their fingers. “I promise.”

Paige’s voice cracked as she spoke. “Good,” she murmured with a teary smile. The droplets of tears at the corners of her eyes caught the rays of the moon, shimmering under the silver light.

A gust of wind swept by, sending dust into Wallace’s face as he hurriedly raised his arms to shield his eyes. When the breeze calmed down and everything was quiet once more, he opened his eyes to see an empty road in front of him, Paige’s figure long gone.