My uncle is guiding the three of us through the flowing sidewalks and streets of Manhattan. Buildings of enormous height lean in and out of my vision as I slip through any cracks I can find in this sea of bustling strangers. I do my best to keep my face
tucked away in my black coat collar in an effort to avoid the city's sharp chill. A large shopping bag with my dress for the night hangs stiffly from my clenched fist, brushing against unknown thighs, calves, and hips. Somehow, through all of this, I
manage to keep up with Nicky, who follows his father, my uncle.

"It's right up here, guys," my Uncle Larry says, ducking his head back quickly in our direction before facing forward again. His disheveled, black hair flaps in the biting wind, and his eyes are only slits trying to hide from its sting.

I catch up to my cousin's side and flash him a humorously aggravated glance. He returns it. I notice that his freckles, which normally enlighten his other features, are almost impossible to be seen now. The New York cold has truly taken effect, with the
disappearance of Nicky's freckles being the most obvious piece of evidence. Still, we brave it every year anyway. I've never felt the need to complain though; doing things like this with my Uncle and cousin are what make a trek through the weather
worth it.

"When was the last time you were at the museum?" Nicky's voice barely peeks through the city noise. I think for a moment, trying to remember the last time I went with them to witness the museum at its greatest.

"I'd say it's been...a year and a half, maybe." I say.

"It's really been that long?" he says with a hint of reflection in his tone.

"I think so. I remember writing college applications around that time." I say.

"Yeah, yeah, right." he says, looking forward again.

I can tell he's remembering a time before he had to think about going to college and making a life for himself. He was a junior in high school. I was a senior. He's going through what I went through, but at least I knew I wanted to go into astronomy,
something my parents were thrilled with. Although, my parents would support virtually anything I wanted to do. I could tell them I wanted to become a professional cliff diver, and they'd probably get everyone they know to come see me jump. Nicky's
situation, however, is different. He's expressed an interest in becoming a DJ for clubs around the world, and his mom and dad, though they're divorced, both agree that it can't be what he's going to do for a living. The museum seems to be the glue
keeping Nicky and his father on decent terms. They love each other, they'd be nothing without each other; it's just hard when one is aspiring to be a DJ and the other is a night guard at the Museum of Natural History.

Finally, we're making our way up the stairs to the front doors of the museum. When we reach the top, my uncle opens a door and beckons us inside. It is then that I feel the burning contrast between my freezing skin and the welcoming warmth of the building.
Nicky and I both let out sighs of relief as we start to strip ourselves of our coats and gloves. My uncle quickly pulls the door shut and does the same, stomping his shoes on the floor to shake away the snow. The event doesn't start until 9:00 PM,
but we're here two hours early to make sure everything stays in place.

Actually, I suppose we're doing the opposite.

The Museum of Natural History, as traditional as it may seem, houses a magical tablet, called the Tablet of Ahkmenrah, that brings every exhibit to life at night. We found out about it years ago when my uncle took the job as the night guard. He would
often bring Nicky and I to work with him during the night to experience it ourselves. It's lead me to believe that there's more magic in our universe than we're being shown. After all, I didn't want to not believe my own family member when he explained
what was going on. I can't corner people out like that, so I, Carly Bell, let myself have a little fun and pretended to believe in all the magic.

That is, until I saw everything return to its place and freeze. All the living, moving, breathing wax figures, statues, skeletons, mummies, and neanderthals went back to their original positions and became as still as a forest. It was as if they'd never
been up and walking around in the first place. It was then that I knew it couldn't be a hoax. It was all so real and true. I took the leash off of my imagination and allowed it to breathe the fresh air of a new chapter.

Following that, I believed I would become nocturnal just so I could go to the museum every night for the rest of my life.

Obviously, that didn't happen, as it has been over a year since my last visit. I feel like a bad parent who can never make it to their kid's soccer games. I've neglected something that once brought me so much joy. Still, I try to convince myself that
my absence doesn't matter now that I'm here again.

"Okay, guys!" my uncle's anxious tone snaps me out of my guilt. I see him fiddling with his hands, a nervous habit he seems to do often. He just wants this event to go well, and I want the same for him. The least I can do is give him my attention. "Things
should start coming to life in about an hour. I need you two to start setting up the tables and chairs. The catering company will take care of all the food once we give them a place to put it, but we've got to move quickly."

Nicky and I don't hesitate. We find at least 20 circular tables clumped together in a corner of the entry and start pushing them into different places around the room. His dad brings the caterers in with platters and platters of delicious looking foods.
When all of this is done, he awkwardly instructs them to wait outside until the public is allowed in, all in an effort to keep them from seeing the magic before the event begins.

It's amazing how fast an hour passes. By the time we finish setting up furniture and decorations, I hear an earth-stopping, shimmering noise that I haven't heard in a very long time.

The sound rings, twirls, and echoes through the halls and staircases. I glance at Nicky, trying to read his face. From what I see, it doesn't say much. He's more focused on the sleeves of his shirt than what's happening around us. He's probably used to
it, the museum coming to life. He's seen it many more times than I have, but even if I'd witnessed it a thousand times before, I don't think the magic would ever cease to amaze me.

"Get ready!" my uncle says with urgency in his tone. I don't know who his alert is for though. It could be any of us. For me, telling me to stay calm and brace myself. For Nicky, to maintain his focus. For Uncle Larry, to remember that what happens now
is what happens every night, that the people who will be watching will make no difference.

Suddenly, the sounds of cheering, elephants, lions, and other things I can't distinguish are resounding around the building. Wax statues stretch to life right before my eyes, exotic animals prance in with ease. It surrounds me, and I'm brought back in
time.

"Lawrence!" a jolly voice startles me, even though it's directed at my uncle. I recognize the man on his horse as none other than Theodore Roosevelt. Hesitantly, I retreat to where he approaches Uncle Larry, smoothing out my blue tank top and red plaid
shirt. "Good to see you again, lad!" Teddy says.

"You too, Teddy," my uncle starts, his hands finally resting at his sides. "You remember my niece, right? It's been awhile." Now, I stride over once I've been introduced. I can't just walk up to Theodore Roosevelt and act like it's nothing.

"Ah, I remember this one," Roosevelt says, holding out his hand as he stays mounted on the live horse. "Carly, isn't it?" He looks me right in the eyes, and I take his hand, reminding myself to shake it with firm confidence. I can feel my fair skin blushing,
and I hope he doesn't notice.

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, please. Call me Teddy!"

My eyes flash towards Uncle Larry, who seems to be beaming with pride. Or maybe it's just Teddy's delighted energy that keeps him from going mad with anxiety.

"Goodness, I think the last time I saw you, you were looking at colleges," Teddy says. "Tell me, how is that going?"

"I'm at Williams College in Massachusetts. I'm majoring in astronomy," I tell him.

"That's wonderful!" he says. "Well, I wish you the best of luck. Lawrence, you too," he says, and rides off into another room. My uncle smirks, knowing he needs all the luck he can get.

"So, I guess you should probably-" Uncle Larry starts.

"Larry!"

This voice strikes me and makes my blood turn to molasses. It's a voice with a regal English accent and a groggy, cryptic, low tone. I turn to see his tall, lean figure coming in our direction. His olive skin seems to glow against his exotic, large, blue
eyes. And of course, the shimmering gold and blue attire he wears along with a cylindrical, gold crown would suggest his position as the young Pharaoh he is. Or was.

Ahkmenrah.

As his name implies, he is the one whom the magical tablet was created for. Being a mummy exhumed from the dead, he never appears to age a day, maintaining a look of late teens to mid twenties.

Still, he isn't just a Pharaoh to me; he never was, even when I was young. He is the thought that would trace through my mind when I least expected it; the force that pushed me to believe the impossible; the eyes of the universe that held truth I could
never see myself but only dream of.

And, honestly, just a really nice guy.

"Hey, Ahkmenrah," my uncle says as he approaches us.

"Is everything ready for tonight?" the boy says, hardly acknowledging me.

"Yeah, just about. I think it'll be great," he says with finality to his tone. I notice that the Pharaoh and I are exchanging awkward, fleeting glances. So does my uncle. "Ahk, do you remember Carly, my niece?"

"Yes, it's been quite a long time, but…" he says, scanning me over.. "...how could I forget her?"

Dammit, stop blushing.

"I remember when you were no more than this tall!" he motions to the area around my waist with a teasing smile.

It's true. I met Ahkmenrah the first time I came to work with my uncle. I was nine years old, Nicky was eight. I remember when Uncle Larry went off to check on an exhibit deeper in the museum, and Nicky was off playing with an ostrich, and I was left
alone near the front. That is, until Ahkmenrah found me, took pity on my lonesome, and offered to show me around. The feeling of my little hand being sheltered inside his larger one is something I've never been able to shake. Every time after that,
even as a young girl, my heart would skip a beat whenever he entered the room. His mysterious yet gentle air was captivating, and I could never tear myself away from it. At least, I didn't want to.

Seeing him now, it's obvious that my feverish crush on him hasn't changed a bit.

"Yeah...I've uh, I've grown," I squeak with a chuckle.

Seconds pass. My uncle's eyes dart between Ahkmenrah and myself, until the Pharaoh finally breaks the silence.

"You'll be here for the presentation tonight?" he says quickly.

"Of course!" I say. "I'm making my valiant return, so...go, me!"

No, no, no, no, no, stop talking.

Despite the utter stupidity of my remark, he looks down and laughs.

Okay, not horrible.

Again, there are seconds of quiet that even Ahkmenrah doesn't know how to remedy this time.

"Carly, you should probably start to get dressed, and...um…" my uncle says.

"Yeah...that's uh...yeah, I'm going to go do that now," I say, starting to stumble off away from them.

"Restrooms are over there!"

"Got it, thanks!"

I finally break into a normal, purposeful walk towards the women's restroom to change into my dress, fix my hair, and do my makeup. Even with all of this in mind, I find the ability to look back behind me, hoping to see the Pharaoh's eyes staring in my
direction.

When I find him, his eyes are on my uncle, paying attention to whatever words are coming from his mouth. I look back a second time to see them heading in the direction of the Egypt exhibit. My heart sinks. Whether it is out of satisfaction or longing
I can't tell.

But even though the boy is gone, I swear, I can feel his eyes all around me.