An End to a Beautiful Dream
I made it back to where Matt was waiting for me.
"Dead end."
"Mine too."
"Didn't take you long to reach the end, I'm guessing?"
Are you kidding? I thought. I've been gone for weeks, surely. It felt like it anyway. I smiled, and took his hand, as we joined the others. They were disappointed.
"I found another way to the ocean." Kecia told us dejectedly. No one else had much luck either. I didn't want to share my discovery with anyone, just yet. I waited until Matt had taken me back to Grandma's house before telling anyone. I told Grandma, and she smiled, not believing me at first
When she finally believed me, she told me that's how the stories had been invented in the first place.
"So, you mean that those alternate dimensions were just as real as this one? So, was Walt Disney..... a merman?"
"Well, as a young man he was. When he as 18, he chose to visit land, and was so fascinated by the world above, he stayed. It's because of his first years as a merman that The Little Mermaid was such a realistic movie. He knew everything there was to know about mermaids, and mermen, though The Little Mermaid is taken directly from that dimension, and not much of it applies to us. See, we do not fear humans. And here, King Triton is not the ruler. We have no king, no queen, but a group we call the counsel."
"Oh, so you mean that it's not like a monarchy at all? Do you guys elect your counsel?"
"Not really. See, when our people were first created, we elected counsel members. These select few were given powers beyond all mortal comprehension, as well as immortality. Now, if they so choose, they may step down, and elect a new counsel member, and in that case, they loose all power, and immortality. They, in turn, shall die, as all creatures must."
"Why would anyone make that choice."
"It is hard, they are not all-knowing. They do have wonderful powers, but they are a big responsibility. Think if you had to be the one making every decision for an entire race of people, and the job never ended. Wouldn't you want a break every now and again?"
"Yes, but..."
"They never can take breaks. They are elected for life."
"Wow."
Mom told me they were wanting to elect Grandma to be one of the counsel. I wondered if she'd accept?
Mom showed up again later that night, and Grandma told her she needed to talk to her about something very important, and that Jesse needed to be present. Mom promised she'd be back soon, and left to go get Jesse.
Grandma told Mom everything I had been through, and they discussed what would happen for most of the night. This time Jesse had come along, and she and I stayed up, while I told her of my adventures. She wanted to meet Matt, but was extremely disappointed when I told her we were already going out.
"My sister, all grown up, and has a boyfriend."
I giggled nervously.
"So have you kissed him yet?"
I nodded, sighing. She giggled.
"Is he a good kisser?"
"Well, I have no basis for comparison, but I think he is."
"That is so cool!" she squealed.
The next morning, when I woke up, Mom and Grandma were sitting at the table, discussing something very seriously. I smiled, but my smile disappeared when I saw the looks on their faces. Grandma came toward me, and hugged me. I was confused. What in the world is going on? I wanted to shout.
"I'm sorry Morgan, but I have no choice." Grandma told me. She smiled, and placed her hand upon my head. I felt the room spin, and heard her final words to Mom. "I had no choice. I'm erasing her memory. I'll do the same with Jesse if you think it's required. Too much damage has been done. Unfortunately, we can not reverse time, but I'm sure those other dimensions can be fixed with a bit of work. I won't fix Matt's memory, but his friends will need it."
I wondered why they weren't going to 'fix' Matt. I didn't think it was fair, but as I tried to protest, my mind went blank. My last rational thought was that I wished I could've said goodbye to Matt. A tear slid down my cheek, and all was black. I drifted into a dreamless slumber.
I made it back to where Matt was waiting for me.
"Dead end."
"Mine too."
"Didn't take you long to reach the end, I'm guessing?"
Are you kidding? I thought. I've been gone for weeks, surely. It felt like it anyway. I smiled, and took his hand, as we joined the others. They were disappointed.
"I found another way to the ocean." Kecia told us dejectedly. No one else had much luck either. I didn't want to share my discovery with anyone, just yet. I waited until Matt had taken me back to Grandma's house before telling anyone. I told Grandma, and she smiled, not believing me at first
When she finally believed me, she told me that's how the stories had been invented in the first place.
"So, you mean that those alternate dimensions were just as real as this one? So, was Walt Disney..... a merman?"
"Well, as a young man he was. When he as 18, he chose to visit land, and was so fascinated by the world above, he stayed. It's because of his first years as a merman that The Little Mermaid was such a realistic movie. He knew everything there was to know about mermaids, and mermen, though The Little Mermaid is taken directly from that dimension, and not much of it applies to us. See, we do not fear humans. And here, King Triton is not the ruler. We have no king, no queen, but a group we call the counsel."
"Oh, so you mean that it's not like a monarchy at all? Do you guys elect your counsel?"
"Not really. See, when our people were first created, we elected counsel members. These select few were given powers beyond all mortal comprehension, as well as immortality. Now, if they so choose, they may step down, and elect a new counsel member, and in that case, they loose all power, and immortality. They, in turn, shall die, as all creatures must."
"Why would anyone make that choice."
"It is hard, they are not all-knowing. They do have wonderful powers, but they are a big responsibility. Think if you had to be the one making every decision for an entire race of people, and the job never ended. Wouldn't you want a break every now and again?"
"Yes, but..."
"They never can take breaks. They are elected for life."
"Wow."
Mom told me they were wanting to elect Grandma to be one of the counsel. I wondered if she'd accept?
Mom showed up again later that night, and Grandma told her she needed to talk to her about something very important, and that Jesse needed to be present. Mom promised she'd be back soon, and left to go get Jesse.
Grandma told Mom everything I had been through, and they discussed what would happen for most of the night. This time Jesse had come along, and she and I stayed up, while I told her of my adventures. She wanted to meet Matt, but was extremely disappointed when I told her we were already going out.
"My sister, all grown up, and has a boyfriend."
I giggled nervously.
"So have you kissed him yet?"
I nodded, sighing. She giggled.
"Is he a good kisser?"
"Well, I have no basis for comparison, but I think he is."
"That is so cool!" she squealed.
The next morning, when I woke up, Mom and Grandma were sitting at the table, discussing something very seriously. I smiled, but my smile disappeared when I saw the looks on their faces. Grandma came toward me, and hugged me. I was confused. What in the world is going on? I wanted to shout.
"I'm sorry Morgan, but I have no choice." Grandma told me. She smiled, and placed her hand upon my head. I felt the room spin, and heard her final words to Mom. "I had no choice. I'm erasing her memory. I'll do the same with Jesse if you think it's required. Too much damage has been done. Unfortunately, we can not reverse time, but I'm sure those other dimensions can be fixed with a bit of work. I won't fix Matt's memory, but his friends will need it."
I wondered why they weren't going to 'fix' Matt. I didn't think it was fair, but as I tried to protest, my mind went blank. My last rational thought was that I wished I could've said goodbye to Matt. A tear slid down my cheek, and all was black. I drifted into a dreamless slumber.