Spirits and Sorrows

Hannah opened her eyes when she felt someone gently shake her shoulders and softly call her name. She was met with Peter’s eyes gazing down at her.

She hastily woke up and threw her arms around him, beyond relieved to see him. “Thank God you’re back, where’ve you been? I was so worried about you!”

He gently took her by her shoulders and set her back. “I’m sorry I took off like that, I needed some space to cool down. I know this is last-minute and you don’t have the time you deserve to decide this but we don’t have long. Laura came to me and said tonight was my only chance to get back.”

“Tonight?” she parroted, trying to make sense of all the information that was being thrown at her at once.

“Yes. I know this is a lot to throw at you and I wish I could give you the time you deserve to think through this but I have to know, will you come with me?”

She was speechless. Her mind raced, trying to come up with the right decision. She wanted to be with Peter, wanted to save the Eternal World and everyone in it, but she was terrified to go back. She had nightmares from the bloodshed she saw when the war started. She didn’t know if she could handle going back. She also didn’t know if she could handle never seeing Peter again.

“Hannah?” he pressed.

“I don’t know,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I want to be with you, more than anything, but I don’t know if I can go back.”

An expression of pained understanding passed over his face. He placed his hands over hers and said, “I understand this is a hard decision for you to make but we don’t have much time. If you decide you want to come with me I’ll be in the woods tonight, the same spot as we usually are. If you decide to stay here and this is the last time we see each other, I want you to know I love you, Hannah Nicole Marie Carson. I’ve never loved anyone else like I’ve loved you. The four years I’ve spent with you have been one of the happiest times of my life. I’ll never forget you for as long as I live.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and without a word he turned and left, leaving her gazing after him as tears streamed down her face.

Hours passed. Hannah stayed in the same position she was in, a million thoughts swarming around in her head.

She didn’t know what to do. She was terrified about making the wrong decision and she only had a few hours to make it.

Out of nowhere, a sharp pain exploded in her head, causing her to gasp and clutch her head. It was a pain she’d never experienced before. Black spots filled her vision and she cried out. Flashes appeared in her eyes and she saw glimpses of herself, Peter, Ruben, and Laura standing in front of a cheering crowd, alive and well, then images of Ruben and Laura standing alone, Peter nowhere in sight, standing in front of a grave.

The pain and images disappeared as quickly as they arrived in the first place and she was left sitting there, gasping. It dawned on her that she’d just had a vision for the first time in four years. She hastily grabbed her sketchpad and drew everything she saw.

The first image showed herself, Peter, Ruben, and Laura standing in front of a cheering crowd, Raven City was rebuilt and thriving all around them, everyone appearing content and safe.

The second image showed Ruben and Laura standing alone, in front of a grave, Raven City rebuilt behind them.

The second sketch terrified her. It looked like Peter would be . . . She couldn’t finish the word. She knew what she had to do.

She made her decision.

She ran to the woods as the sun lowered in the sky. The moon would rise soon. Her chest and stomach throbbed painfully but pushed through it.

She had to get there on time. If she didn’t and didn’t see Peter, she couldn’t live with it. It would haunt her for the rest of her life.

She weaved through the trees at a speed she didn’t know she was capable of. Finally, Peter came into view. He was standing in the middle of a clearing. Thank God, he was still there. She’d made it.

“Peter!” she called out in a strangled, out-of-breath voice.

He jolted and spun around. When he saw her his eyes widened. “Hannah?”

She ran up to him and collapsed to her knees, trying to catch her breath.

He knelt in front of her and grasped her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”

It took her several attempts to get the words out and she said, “I made my decision. I’m coming with you.”