As the World Falls Down

Thunder rolled outside the window. The rain that had threatened all day now came down with a vengeance. Sarah sat on her bed, her knees pulled up supporting her chin, as she stared at the silver sheen that was her window.

It was raining that night too, she thought.

Unbidden came the memory of the telephone call that had shattered her life.

"Hello?" she said into the receiver.

"Is this Sarah Larsen?" asked the voice on the other side.

A cold hand gripped Sarah's heart. "Yes."

"Ma'am, this is Officer Reid. We need you to come down to the hospital. There's been an accident."

Sarah's mind went blank. She couldn't think, couldn't answer. Please, not Richard, she begged.

"Ma'am?" said Officer Reid. "Ma'am? Should we send an officer over to bring you here?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Please."

She'd bundled herself and her six-month-old daughter Ashley against the chill November rain and waited for the police car to arrive. Once at the hospital she'd been surprised to find not only her father and step-mother, but her in-laws as well. Momentary anger dispelled her terror. Had she been the last one notified? Why hadn't her parents, or Richard's parents, come to get her? Her father took Ashley, and Sarah had been led to a room where a sheet-draped form lay on a gurney.

A doctor had come in and started talking to her, but she hadn't been able to take her eyes off that still form.

God, she'd prayed silently, don't let it be Richard. My baby needs a father.

Finally the doctor had stopped talking and gestured her toward the gurney. He'd lifted the sheet and Sarah's knees gave out. With a wail she sank to the floor crying her husband's name over and over again. She hardly noticed when her father and step-mother came in the room and tried to consol her. She didn't know how many minutes or hours passed before they were able to coax her from the room and take her home.

It had been a robbery. The man had tried to rob a convenience store and been shot by the owner. Richard had been the surgeon on duty in the ER when the man came in. Richard tried to treat the robber, but he'd pulled a knife and stabbed her husband.

Sarah's parents had stayed with her through the funeral preparations and for a week afterward. But then work and other obligations had called them away. Sarah was rarely left alone though. A steady stream of family and friends had come to keep her company and to tend Ashley, leaving Sarah to grieve.

Tonight, on the year anniversary of Richard's death, Sarah's father and stepmother came to take Ashley.

"You need time alone tonight," her father said as Sarah zipped up Ashley's coat and put her mittens and hat on.

"You really need to pull yourself together," her stepmother chimed in. "Your daughter needs a mother, not an emotional mess. The rest of the family is exhausted from taking care of you both."

"Irene, now's not the time," her father chided.

But somehow her stepmother's barbs hadn't carried their usual sting.

I must be totally dead emotionally, thought Sarah as she put on Ashley's boots. Even Irene wasn't enough to stir feelings in her. She placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead and then handed Ashley to her grandfather.

"We'll bring her back tomorrow night," he said before heading out into the night.

"Thanks, Dad," Sarah said. "Thank you, Irene. I know I haven't made this easy for you."

Irene looked flustered. Sarah's father smiled and kissed her. "We love you, honey. I just want to see you smile again."

As the door clicked closed, Sarah felt the tears well up in her eyes. She run to her room and threw herself on the bed sobbing like a baby. Somewhere in her emotional storm, she'd fallen asleep, but now her tears were dry and she sat on the bed recalling all the good times she'd shared with Richard.

After her adventure in the Underground she'd changed. She had been more grown up, more responsible. She'd put away many of her daydreams and focused more on reality; finishing high school, going to college, then meeting and marrying Richard. That wasn't to say that she didn't have occasional visits from Hoggle and Underground friends, but she found that she had an inner reserve of strength, and she could make it on her own.

Now Sarah let her mind take her back to her time in the Labyrinth. She recalled the challenges she'd faced and the friends she'd made. Hoggle's wrinkled face floated before her eyes and she could imagine him chastising her for taking things for granted. Then Sir Didymus formed in her mind's eye and she smiled remembering his gung-ho attitude. Lastly, gentle Ludo appeared with the simple message 'Sawah, fwend'. With the memories of happier days in her mind, Sarah drifted into a deep, restful sleep.

Outside her window an owl sat in the tree, watching. It was a great horned owl, so dark brown it was almost black. Its golden eyes pierced the rain and watched the young woman as she laughed and cried remembering her husband and friends. As Sarah into sleep the owl stirred.

Now was the time to put its plan into action. While the girl slept and was vulnerable to his suggestions.

The owl spread its huge wings and flew into the storm.

"Sarah."

Sarah grumbled and rolled over.

"Wake up, fair maid."

"Too early. Lemme sleep," she mumbled.

"Sawah, need help," rumbled a deeper voice.

There was no mistaking those voices. Sarah opened her eyes and sat up.

Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus stood before her. They all looked older than she remembered, and world-weary.

"We are in need of thy help, fair maiden," said Sir Didymus.

"We needs ya ta come solve th' Labyrinth again," said Hoggle.

Ludo nodded his shaggy head. "Help, help," he rumbled.

Sarah turned away from her friends and hung her head.

"I can't," she whispered closing her eyes.

Sarah lay in quiet darkness for a while before she became aware that she wasn't alone. A hand was rhythmically stroking her hair and a soft male voice was singing. She opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of a large bed. Sitting at her side was the King of the Goblins. He was dressed simply in black tights and a white poet shirt that hung open, exposing his chest.

She closed her eyes again, relaxing. She had long ago discarded her dislike for Jareth. There was nothing he could do to her now. And at this moment she needed comfort. His familiar yet exotic presence calmed her.

"Thank you," she murmured.

The singing stopped and the hand stilled, but didn't leave her head. She opened her eyes to see him looking down at her with his mismatched gaze. He smiled.

"Are you ready to come back?" the Goblin King asked.

"I can't," said Sarah, softly. "I have a child to take care of. Responsibilities."

Jareth sighed and looked away. Sarah thought he looked very tired. She was stunned he'd show so much emotion. She reached up and touched his hand where it rested on her head. He looked at her and smiled again. Jareth took her hand in his and raised it to his lips.

"Farewell, Sarah." He stood and started to back away, her fingers slipping from his. "I don't think I will ever see you again."

Something in his voice made her breath catch in her throat. She reached out to him, but he faded from her sight. The bed she was lying on, and the room around her, vanished and she felt herself falling through an immense space.

There's no one to catch me, Sarah thought frantically.

"That's the risk you run, when the world falls down," said a voice from the darkness.

Sarah thought it was Jareth and for a moment her fears vanished.

Then she hit the floor.