Chapter 43
AN: I have been asked when this story will reach the end. I will certainly let everyone know which chapter is last. This is not it yet. Ella still has things to do.
After the tour, Rose suggested everyone warm up with coffee. Ella was included in this invitation. "It is right next to Union Station. You won't miss your train."
"Thank you."
As they walked, Rose asked Ella about her trip. Ella told her about finding the box and managing to locate Susan. However, she didn't mention Narnia. She had a feeling most wouldn't believe her. Rose seemed like she might, but Ella was not ready to share all of that.
"You've gone through a lot," Rose said as they walked into the café.
"Yes, though I wouldn't have traded it for anything," Ella answered.
"That is the best thing to do. Better to take risks than live with regrets."
"It wasn't really risky to come here."
"You left home and came to a new city. You were not certain of the person you would find. That involved emotional risk."
"I suppose so."
"Risks don't have to be things like skydiving. They can be as simple as eating a new dish at a restaurant or taking a trip," Rose told her.
This made Ella smile. She ordered some food and then sat down near the others. It was clear they all knew each other and though she was the youngest, they asked her about herself and her thoughts about Chicago. Ella admitted that she hadn't seen anything. This quickly led to discussions about which places were the best to visit. It seemed that as soon as one finished telling about a place, Ella wanted to find a way to extend her trip and see everything. Yet, she had other things to work out first. She felt a pang of sadness. She had been so focused on Narnia and finding Susan that she wasn't sure how she could just go back as if nothing had happened. She was not the same young woman who had left just earlier that morning. That morning felt like another lifetime. In a way it was. Ella knew she was different. Though Chicago seemed like an interesting place, Ella would have gladly traded it to be back in Narnia. It was also hard not telling anyone about it. Though Ella didn't really have many friends, she wanted to tell the whole world about it.
After finishing their food, one man looked at his watch. "I suppose I should get home."
Another woman looked at her cell phone for the time and nodded. "I should too. I promised the sitter I wouldn't be too late."
Then, it was just Rose and Ella. "I'll walk you over to the entrance."
"Thank you."
Rose led her across a crosswalk and then into the station. "Now, I know you might not come back here, but if you do, let me know," Rose said, handing her a business card. She was an accountant, according to the card.
"I will," Ella assured her. "I probably won't need you for your help with accounting though. My bank account is very small," she added, shifting the box to tuck the card into her pocket.
This made Rose laugh. "You are young. You said you were going to go back to college? Well, college students do not have much money. You will get there."
"Maybe one day," Ella agreed though she found herself thinking about Narnia.
Rose smiled and gave her a brief hug. "Keep strong, Ella. You're a brave girl. Feel free to keep in touch, even if you don't need anything."
Ella nodded and then watched Rose disappear into the crowd.
After checking the board for her gate, Ella paused when she saw a small store inside the station. They had candy bars, magazines and a wall of refrigerated drinks. None of that was what caught her eye. Instead, she looked at a small bound book that had three holes punched into it. It was just like one of the books she had taken notes in during her years at school.
Though Ella wasn't planning on taking notes. Instead, she decided to follow Susan's example.
After paying for the notebook and pen, Ella slipped those two items into her bag before hurrying to her train.
They were already boarding and she was helped up the steep stairs. It wasn't hard to find a seat and Ella sank into the one closest to the window, the spot next to her also open.
Lowering the tray table in front of her, Ella pulled out the pen and the notebook. She looked at the blank page, then wrote
Dear
Was she writing to a notebook though? It felt silly. She was about to cross out the word when I thought came to her.
She wrote Susan's name. It might felt silly to write to someone who would never see it, but Ella thought it might help act as if she was writing a letter to the Narnians. All of them if she wanted.
Though Ella knew there was one letter she had to write, one she had promised to write, she wanted to write down everything she could. She didn't want to forget this experience and though she knew she wouldn't, she wanted to remember every detail.
As the train started, taking her away from Chicago, Ella's mind was already far away back in Narnia.
