Forgotten Hope: One

Forgotten Hope: ONE



Having amnesia, she couldn't recall her ancestry, let alone what her original name was.  Did she have a last name?  Were people out there looking for her?  These are the questions that often burn through her mind from time to time when she's alone to herself, which is never too often.

She likes to keep herself busy by helping others out.  For some reason, she often knows when people are in dire need of help.  She doesn't know how she has this ability, or why she has it; she just knows that her abilities must be there for a specific reason.  In her heart, she feels she must help others out, and save lives when she can.  Today is a quiet day, and she's left alone to her thoughts, however.

She recalls the day her life started over.  She was somewhere in Greece, being pulled out of the water by some kind gentleman.  Anthony was his name; she remembered him well.  He was young at the time, and while most villagers had dark hair and dark eyes, his hair was of a dirty blonde color, and his eyes were of the lightest blue that she had ever seen.  She thought it was rather strange, but she couldn't be rude and ask him right off about his heritage.  When she awoke after being pulled from the water, he asked her some questions.

"Are you OK?"  He asked in Greek.

"I think so," she responded in the same language.  Wait, she thought, I don't speak Greek.  How do I know this?  She sat herself up and that's when she noticed she was in a small villa of some sort, sitting on top of a table.

"How is it that you are still alive?"  He asked her.  She could tell Anthony was looking at her in wonder.

"I do not know," was her only reply.

"I-I must have been fishing out there for hours and I did not notice you," he paused.  "I thought for sure you were dead, but instead, you are alive.  You seem full of life.  You seem to be unharmed.  What is your name?"

She really didn't know her name, but the word "life" struck a chord with her.  The only name she spat out was, "Zoe," which means "life" in Greek.

"I am very pleased to meet you," he replied.  "My name is Anthony.  If I can help you in any way, let me know."

The word "help" triggered a vague memory.  She wasn't certain, but she believed she was on a mission of some sort.  She had arrived in Greece to help out, although she can't recall why or to whom she was supposed to help.

"I have to go," she said suddenly and hopped off the table.  "Thank you for all your help."

"Do you mind if I ask where you are going?"

"I have to help others," she replied.  "It is my mission."

"Can I join you?"

"It would be too dangerous."

"I'm willing to risk it."

"Don't you have someone to go home to?"

"I did," he gave a far away look.  "But she refused my proposal."

"Sorry to hear that."

Upon hearing those words spoken, Zoe spent a few minutes thinking about it.  She could probably use an ally, but she would feel awful if something bad were to happen to him.  He did rescue her from the waters.  She turned to face him.  That was when she noticed she had black hair.  She then wondered if it was possible she was from Greece.

It can't be, she thought.  I detest this place for some reason.  All of their Gods, and their made-up Gods.

She brought her mind back and asked, "How knowledgeable are you?"

"Well," he began.  "I am a traveler.  I know my geography and history, and I can adapt to any language."

She didn't need to ask him anymore.  For some reason, she felt he was honest and sincere.

"Alright," she replied after a few moments.  "I could use someone like you."

They headed off to destinations unknown, and slowly discovered what Zoe's mission in life was:  She was a monster hunter, but she mostly hunted vampires.

Anthony seemed alright living the hunter's kind of life until he got too old to hunt anymore.  Zoe brought him back to the place where they had first met; the place where he pulled her out of the Grecian waters.  She suggested for him to find his one true love and try again.  She explained it's never too late for true love.

For just a brief moment, Zoe felt like she lost her true love the day she lost her memory.  She couldn't explain it, but she felt completely heart-broken.  Of course, she kept those feelings to herself.  She wanted Anthony, who turned into a very dear friend, to have the life she was never destined to have.

He decided to follow her advice, and asked her to come with.  For an old friend, she happily obliged.  He found his fair maiden, still alone, and waiting for him.  She had never gotten the chance to explain to him what had happened that day.

"I didn't give you an answer that day because," his fair maiden, Vanessa paused.  "I needed to go home to my parents and tell them of my plans, but I never got the chance.  My father fell ill, and I was forced to go out and help make a living.  I tried to find you the next day to tell you, but you were already gone."

That threw Zoe for a loop.  Anthony and Zoe never discussed relationships of the past; with Zoe having no memory, Anthony felt he didn't want to burden his friend with his relationship problems.  Sometimes, things like this are meant to happen, Zoe told herself.  Everything happens for a reason, I suppose.

"Oh," he replied, and looked down.  "I wished I had known."

"I've never married," she replied.

He lifted his head to meet her gaze.  "Never?"

"No," she said.  "But I had to lie as well.  I had to say I was married and still waiting for my husband to get back."

"Why is that?"

"Demetrius, Daria!  Come on out here, please!"  She shouts out.  Two grown kids come out from the house.

The two children looked like Vanessa.  They had her dark hair and her dark skin.  Their eyes were different, however.  They were a very light blue--much like Anthony's eyes.

"These are the twins," Vanessa replied.  "Our twins."

"Twins?  Ours?"

Vanessa nodded.

Before Anthony embraced his new life, with what little or not so little time he had left in life, he turned to face Zoe.

"You have been a great friend," he said.  "Thank you for taking me with you, and all the adventures we went on.  I'll never forget it."

Zoe smiled.  "Thank you for rescuing me, even though I still don't remember my life before this."

"In time," he replied.  "You will get it back.  Something eventually will trigger your memory back.  Maybe some day when you're old like me."  He smiled even though deep inside, Zoe suspected that Anthony might have known at this point she hadn't aged at the same way he had.  She could be easily mistaken for someone in her early to mid-twenties.

She gave a curt laugh.  "Go, and enjoy your family."

She took off, never to see him again, well, with never the intention for Anthony and his family to see her.  She stops by on occasion to see how his family is doing without their knowledge.  She was happier knowing that Anthony and his family were safe, rather than to see her face again; a youthful memory.

Zoe brings her mind to the present.  She wonders why on a day like today, she would be thinking about Anthony.  It wasn't the day they met.  So many centuries had passed since that day--So many centuries that she lost count--and she still doesn't remember anything before then.  The only thing she knows is to keep on moving.

She heaves a sigh.  Now living in America, she has new battles to take on.

The Empath: 11

To catch up on the EMPATH writes, CLICK HERE!!!

THE EMPATH:  Chapter Eleven

SORRY IN ADVANCE!!!  I have no guesses....I had very little time to do anything this week.  I'm hoping next week will be better!!!!  :)




Sunday June 21st, 1987


**Six Feet of Earth Makes Us All Equal, is an Italian proverb.


Charlene didn't just write coordinates to get to where she's at, she also left a cryptic clue.  One that's of an Italian proverb.  On the piece of paper read:  **Six feet of earth makes us all equal.

Mary somehow had a feeling Charlene would write something like that, considering the coordinates leads to an empty area.  The quote is proof that today will be equivalent to being six feet under.


"Unmarked territory," Mary mumbles under her breath.

Mallory and Jeremiah hadn't even bothered to ask Mary what's going on.  Jeremy can already read Mary's mind.  He knows the conversation between Mary and Charlene, and when getting the map for Mary, he explained as much of the situation to Mallory without giving anything away.  They both knew better not to ask any further questions that could possibly do damage to the timeline.

"Well," Mary looks up at her two companions.  "Let's go!"

"Um," Mallory begins.  "You may want to change your clothes first."

Mary looks down and notices her pretty dress is all dirty.  She realizes her hair must be a mess.  She runs her fingers through her hair and feels something stuck inside her index finger.  She needs a pair of forceps of some sort. She tries to use her teeth like a pair of tweezers.

"Mary.  Why don't you go and get dressed?  We will have plenty of time to get to this place on the map."

Mary looks up from her finger at the two of them.  "Yeah," she says.  "I guess you're right.  I'll need to wear something black."

Jeremiah and Mallory look at each other in confusion.

****

The map points towards the bay area.  While there's a little sand, Mary knows better than to expect a beach wedding there anytime soon.  She knows it's something more sinister.  She can feel it.  That is why she chose to wear black clothing.

It wasn't her ideal kind of clothing.  She's wearing a layered black dress with something they call bicycle pants, slouch socks, and Converse sneakers.  She drew the line on styling her hair.  She took one of Mallory's scrunchies, and threw her long blonde hair back into a low ponytail.  Getting dolled up was only delaying the inevitable.

"It's a dead end," Jeremiah says.

Mary looks out at the bay.  "There has to be something more.  Charlene wouldn't have given me this message unless," she trails off.  She notices something a few miles down the shoreline.

"Unless what?"  He asks.

Mary takes out the map.  "We're standing in the wrong location," she goes on as if Jeremiah said nothing.  "We need to be at that island over there."

"There's nothing there but unmarked tombstones," Mallory speaks.

"But that's where we need to be."

"How do you know?"  Jeremiah asks.

"Because I can feel it," Mary answers.

She turns to see their faces.  She doesn't have to use her empathy to see what they're feeling.  The look on their faces was telling enough.  They were both worried.

She sucks in her breath and speaks.  "*'Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company', right?"

Jeremiah agrees to go only to protect Mary if he can.

Mallory isn't so sure either, though she feels if her daughter is brave enough to go, she will go too.

Mallory takes in a deep breath and says, "I think I may know a spell to get us there."

****

Written by ©Diana Jillian































The Empath, Chapter 11

The Empath: 10

To catch up....Click on the links below....


Chapter 1                      Chapter 5                  Chapter 9

Chapter 2                      Chapter 6

Chapter 3                      Chapter 7

Chapter 4                      Chapter 8

And now....Chapter 10

Let us do some shadow dancing
Underneath a celestial sky tonight
Through shadows, we'll be invisible
Forget it all until the morning light

Sunday, June 21st, 1987

Mary wakes up to find herself in a strange bed.  She looks around and notices she's surrounded by pearls and moonstones.  The pearl and the moonstone are said to be birthstones for those born in June.

"Ah! You're finally awake!"

Mary tries to adjust her eyes so she can get a better look at who is speaking to her.  She realizes who it is, and quickly tries to look for an escape.

"You're safe here," she says.  "I promise you."

"But I was able to feel your anger and jealousy," Mary replies.

"Ah," Charlene begins.  Charlene is going by Chartreuse in Mary's world.  "This room is protected.  I don't have to fake my feelings here."

Mary senses sincerity in Charlene.  She shakes her head.  "But I don't understand."

"Oh no!" Charlene exclaims.  She quickly writes something down on paper and hands it to Mary.  "When you get to your destination, please come back.  I really need your help!"

Mary looks at her in confusion, only to not see her anymore.  Now she is looking at Mallory and Jeremiah.

Mary remembers Tomoko appearing in her dreams, thinking Mary was in trouble.  She must have alerted Mallory immediately.  Mary will go back to speak with her soon.  She opens up the paper in her hand and notices they're coordinates.

"I need a map," Mary says.

***

~~DJ

The Empath, Chapter 10

The Empath: 9

To catch up, here are the links:

Chapter 1                Chapter 2                Chapter 3                Chapter 4

Chapter 5                Chapter 6                Chapter 7                Chapter 8

And now...

CHAPTER 9

Far and wide across the universe 

And in the land of infinite miles 

You'll find there's a lot of gray 

In between black and white tiles

Looking in a world beyond the stars 

In through a world of crooked styles 

You'll find between black and white 

There lies a lot of gray-shaded smiles

©Diana Jillian

Mary always admired Tomoko's spirit. Tomoko is always able to see through people.  She forewarned Mary that Brave and Chartreuse would be nothing but trouble.  Mary sensed it, but deep down inside, she always felt she could help out the pair and become friends.

Well, she was able to become Brave's friend.  Not so much of a friend with Chartreuse.  For a moment, Mary thought she was handling a situation with Char, but seeing her best friend next to her is proof none of that is happening right now.

Mary and Tomoko are in Tomoko's house, in her bedroom, watching a movie. Mary looks up and notices an abstract painting of some sort.

"Huh," Mary says.  "Where did you get that painting?"  She looks over at Tomoko.

Tomoko looks up and notices the painting.  "I have no idea."  She looks at Mary.  "Do you know why you're here?"

Mary gives her friend a strange look and laughs a bit.  Mary tends to let out a laugh when she feels she's being put in an awkward position.

"You asked me to come over," Mary answers.

"I brought you here."

"Um, yeah," Mary says with confusion.  "You invited me over."

She shakes her head.  "No.  Mary.  You're not listening to me."

Tomoko's dark brown eyes are practically piercing into Mary's light brown eyes.

"Toko," Mary begins.  "You're starting to scare me.  What's going on?"

"I'm inside your mind," Tomoko replies.

Mary looks away and laughs.  "You expect me to believe you're inside my mind?"

"Look around you," she says.  "You know that painting is not in my room.  You must be half-conscious somewhere.  What's the last thing you remember?"

Mary looks away.  She hops off the bed and starts pacing on the floor. Mary inhales to speak.

"I was at prom when I," she trails off.  She's never told her friend about her powers of empathy.

"Mary," she turns to face her friend.  "It's okay.  I know about your empathy."

Mary looks at her in shock.  "You do?"

"Yes."

"But how?"

"The same way we're talking now," she replies.  "I can get inside people's heads to see what's going on."

"Oh," Mary answers.  She didn't need to know more.  She remembers the time her and Tomoko talked about having secrets and still being friends.

"I only enter people's heads when I sense they're in danger," Tomoko continues.

"You think I'm in trouble?"

"Think of your mind as a hidden fortress," Tomoko says.  "You're safe here.  Char can't read minds.  I'll try to help you as much as I can from my time, but the rest is up to you.  I will try to send Jeremiah your way."

"Jeremiah?"  Mary questions.  She starts to remember more.  She remembers prom, and she remembers being alone when she went chasing after Chartreuse, who is going by the name Charlene.

"Yes," Tomoko answers.  "Char is very good at blocking others.  She's got a shield on.  Even I can't see where you're at."  She stops talking to think a bit.  "But of course she can't be that good because I was able to get inside your head."

 Mary stares at her friend, while doing some thinking herself.  When she gets back to her time, she will have a long talk with Toko, and tell her everything.

"I'm going to work on a spell," Tomoko speaks. 

Mary snaps out of her reverie.  "A spell for what?"

"To go back to where ever you are.  I have to warn the others.  Where are you anyway?"

"Nineteen eighty-seven," Mary gives a puzzling look.

"And you just mentioned prom," she says with a smile.  "Hang in there.  I'll get help."

"Wait!  Don't leave."

"I have to," she replies.  "Besides, right now is probably not the best time to have a life crisis.  There will be plenty of time later.  You need to be brave.  Wake up, and face this.  Patronize her if you have to."

Mary nods.  "I'll see you soon," her tone is questioning.

"Yes you will," Tomoko replies with a smile.  

And just like that, her best friend was gone.

Mary hears a song with some background singers.  She turns to see where the sound is coming from, but it's not from anywhere in the room she is in.  She knows it's time for her to wake up.

*** 

She Blinked!

Quote:

"The disembodied spirit is immortal; there is nothing of it that can grow old or die.  But the embodied spirit sees death on the horizon as soon as the day dawns."

~~Thomas Hobbes

Darling always had a love for gardens.  If she could, she would sit around in her backyard all day, admiring the scenery.  What wasn't to love about a garden?

The bees would pollinate the flowers while getting nectar for their honey; the beautiful dragonflies would roam around; the geckos would hang out, trying to catch a bug or two for their meal; and the flowers always smelled so beautiful.

This is definitely heaven, Darling thought to herself.  Either that, or I'm dreaming.  Gardens like this only appear in dreams.

With a deep inhale, she exhaled and went back into her house.

Wait a minute, she thought to herself.  She looks around and can't believe her eyes.  She goes to turn around to head back to her garden, only, it's no longer there.

She's surrounded by stone walls and stairs.

I knew this was a dream.

She descends the stairs, where she finds two statue angels standing on opposite sides at the end of the corridor.  Both of them were standing in the shallow water of the fountain.

Before Darling's eyes, a familiar face in a white robe appeared to her.

"Jonah?"  Darling asked.  "Is that you?"

He gives a small laugh.  "Well, I suppose I could be," he answers in a vague way.  "I am whoever you need me to be."

Darling shakes her head.  "I don't understand."

"It's to help you transition."

"Transition."

Jonah--or whoever he or she is--just shakes his head.  "Let me explain."

Darling interrupts him.  "Come clean," she begins.  "Who are you?"

"I think you already know.  But if you really want to know, I'll tell you."

She bites her lip and contemplates for a moment.  She speaks.  "Go on.  You were going to explain something to me."

He snaps his fingers as if he suddenly remembers.  "Ah, yes! There are two angels as you can see."

She sees the angels again.  It was almost as if for a moment, she forgot she saw them the first time around.

"You will forget the angels every time you look away from them," he replies.  "They are only meant to be your guide."

"My guide?"

He nods.

"For what?"

"Well," he gently strokes his beard.  "That's your decision to make.  Either way, they both lead to the same place.  One is just a longer journey than the other."

"Am I in heaven?"  Darling asks.

He gives a contemplative face.  "Eh, more or less," he answers.  "But we really call them realms.  Right now, you are in the realm where good souls stay until you're ready to be reborn."

"That means," Darling almost dares not say the words, but manages to anyway.  "I'm dead?"

"Only the shell, dear," Jonah replies.  As to quote Thomas Hobbes:  'The disembodied spirit is immortal; there is nothing of it that can grow old or die.  But the embodied spirit sees death on the horizon as soon as the day dawns.'."

"Oh," she replies.  "And what about my loved ones?"

"You can watch over them anytime you like," he answers.  "I merely give you a choice of which path you choose:  The long one, or the short one."

"What's the long one?"

"Well this one," Jonah points to the angel on the right.  "She will take you to a different life.  It will be like you're reliving your life all over again, but it will be in a different situation.  Either way, you're still meant to be with us on this very day."

"And the other?"

"The other one will lead you to the life you've always known.  In both worlds, you can watch your family without you.  One version may never know you while the other one does.  Either way, you'll still be back here, watching over them."

"So, you're telling me I had a different life in another," she pauses at the thought for a moment.  "Realm?"

"That is correct," he replies.  "There is a parallel universe.  You can choose what you want to see."

"I see," Darling replies.

She bites down on her lip to think about this. Is she even remotely curious how her life could have been in a parallel universe?  And what if my life was no good there?  All these questions flooded her mind.

A few moments passed and she speaks.  "I've made my decision."

"Are you sure?"  Jonah asks.  "Once you go down that path, there is no going back."

"I'm sure," Darling answers.  "What do I have to do?"

"Just stand in front of the angel of  your choice, and close your eyes.  The angel will touch you, and you will arrive at your destination."

Darling sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  She walks over to the angel, and closes her eyes.

She blinked, and is now exactly where she wants to be.

Written 8/31/15, Monday by ©Diana Jillian

THIS STORY IS DEDICATED TO DEBORAH.  I MISS YOU, BUT I KNOW YOU'LL NEVER BE FAR AWAY.

I HAVE NO GUESSES.  I'M IN NUMB MODE.  I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT!!!  SORRY IN ADVANCE.

~~DJ





































Prose, Short Story, Dedication,