Parrallel

Miriam sat down across from Alyzabeth. She pulled her cloak off her head and rested it on her shoulders. Her delicate hands picked up an intricately designed teacup. She took a sip.

You have questions.

Yes, ma’am

Thank you for the respectful formalities, but no need. You may call me Miriam.

Miriam, where am I?

This is reality.

That doesn’t make sense.  I don’t mean to be rude but I need to get back to my daughter.  My children.  Why do I remember so many children? Oh my god! My children, they are all alone. I stood up quickly.

Please. Sit. They are fine. They are children from different lives. I feel your anxiety. If you must check on them, you may peek through the windows, but I assure you they are all safe and asleep.

I turned and noticed all the windows that lined the wall. In here the room was so bright with all the white, it was near blinding. I walked slowly to the windows, in the first window I found Emma asleep in her bed. The next three windows had Alijah, Alyx,and Alyzza. I continued to walk against the  wall and peeked into the next room, in the fluffy pink bed I found a small toddler with blonde ringlets.

Who is this one? I turned to Miriam and asked, then quickly turned back to see the small child. Her face hidden beneath her comforter.

One to come.

The one I am pregnant with? My hand went to my belly, but instead found my stomach. “Wait, why am I not pregnant here?”

Like I said, this is a different reality. We brought you here to sleep. It is time for you to sleep.

Sleep?

Yes, between worlds you need time to recharge. Please drink some tea. I walked back to the table Miriam was still sitting at. I slowly sat down and looked at her. So… those lives aren’t real?

They are real in a sense. They are all paths you could have chosen after high school. But we can talk another night, you need rest tonight.

How do I sleep?

In that bed. Miriam gestured to a four poster canopy bed against the wall. I took another sip of tea and walked to the bed. Miriam helped unbind my cloak and hung it in the pearl white armoir. Alyzabeth looked down at her white cotton night gown. Took a last look at Miriam and climbed into bed. MIraim pulled the covers over me and tucked me in like a child.

Will I see you in the morning?

No, you will wake up in one of your lives, but I will see you again.

She sat at the desk staring at the objects placed on top. Her cell phone was in front of her. She glanced at the screen, and then turned it over. She didn’t want to see it light up. She put it on mute. No ringtone or vibration. She wasn’t going to answer her phone now. He had the chance to call her earlier. However, he didn’t, just like she didn’t expect him to.

                This time was different, or at least she thought. She had left a tearful message on his voicemail.