Chapter 2: Will you not join me?
Then Sarah woke up. She looked at the clock and it read, 11:23 AM. Crawling out of bed she went into the bathroom. Grabbing her toothbrush and some toothpaste and brushed her teeth. As she was brushing her teeth she looked in the mirror and saw that the black eye was completely gone. She did not know what to think.
"Wow that is one strong working ice pack." She shrugged it off and started for the stairs, glancing out the window on her way, just to think about the owl that she saw the night before. As she looked at the branch that the owl had been sitting on, she noticed a ribbon, waving in the breeze. She opened the window and carefully loosened the ribbon from the branch. She looked at it and it had gold writing on it. It read,
Welcome home my love, till we meet again,
Yours truly, Jareth. Sarah had to read it again to make sure that what she was reading was in fact what it said. She took the ribbon and brought it to her room, placed it in the Labyrinth book, glancing at it for a few more moments and than closing the book to go back down stairs.
"Good morning everyone!"
"Well good morning Sarah, nice to see that you are up. It also looks like the swelling went down on that black eye of yours."
"Yeah! What is in that ice pack anyways?"
"Ah, water why?"
"Oh I just thought that the ice pack worked really well, and wanted to know if there was any specific reason as to why it would. I just thought that I should still have a black eye that's all."
"Well, nope, just water, sorry!"
"Sarah you still look very tired. Did you sleep well last night?" Karen asked.
"Oh, yeah I slept well, thanks, I was just reading really late that's all. Don't worry about it, I am sure that I will go to bed earlier tonight."
"Okay, well I have to take Toby to school, and then I am going to go shopping. Would you like to join me?"
"No thank you Karen, I really need to get some things done here, like unpacking, and going to work, things like that. But thanks again!"
"Okay! But if you change your mind, just call my cell. Here's the number." Karen handed Sarah a piece of note paper with her cell phone number written on it.
"Thanks!" Sarah ate some Honeycomb cereal, (Toby's favorite kind), at the dinner table while reading a magazine. When she finished she put the bowl in the dishwasher, and brought herself to her room. She grabbed the clothes that she decided to wear for the day and went into the bathroom. Turned on the shower, got out of her pajamas and went in. It felt so good having the hot water run down she back. She got out, got changed and brushed her hair. She had finally finished unpacking and drove to work.
"Hey Jessica, how are you today?" Sarah asked, passing one of her employees. Sarah is the owner of a successful clothing store. She loves her job, taking such pride in working it, her favorite part of her job is designing the clothes that she sells. Sarah sells everything from, dress suits, to wedding gowns. The name of her store is called Tres Jolie meaning 'Very Pretty'.
"Hey Brenda, how are you?"
"Hello Sarah, good thanks you?"
"Ah, rough night, but other than that I am great! Hey do you have any messages for me?"
"Yeah, Jared called seven times. He sounds every upset!"
"Well he should be, I left him!"
"What! Why!"
"Because yesterday was our anniversary, and he wanted to do work instead of being with me. But it did not just start there, this has been piling up. So anyways I told him I was fed up with his bull shit! And that I could not take it anymore. And when I got to the door to leave he punched me so I kicked him and left."
"Wow! Sarah! Maybe you should take the day off. I'll keep in charge for you. You need to get out of here and do something that is going to make you feel better!"
"Thank you Brenda, but I'd much rather stay here!"
"Yeah well, what if he decides to drop by and give you a piece of his mind?"
"Oh! I did not think of that! Okay, maybe you are right, I could go to the park for a while and read."
"Yes! Good, you go and do that!" Brenda said patting Sarah on the back, while walking her to the front door.
"Thanks again!"
"No problem!"
Sarah headed for the park that she visited so often as a young girl. At this park, this was where she would cat out scenes from the Labyrinth with her dog, Merlin. Merlin had died three years ago when Sarah had turned nineteen. Sarah got to the park and went to a bench and took a seat. She looked at the little stream that ran from under the bridge, there were swans swimming by. She leaned over and looked at her reflection in the water. She could see behind her a statue, and on top of the statue there was an owl. She sat back up and slowly started to turn around to look at the owl directly. The owl did not move from its spot. She got up from the bench and walked over to the statue.
"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle, beyond the Goblin city! To take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great! You have not power over me!" She recited. And she was very proud of herself for remembering the last line, after some many times of forgetting it. The owl looked at Sarah with understanding eyes, then the owl spread open its wings and flew over to Sarah. She put out her arm. The owl landed on it, Sarah could see that within the beak of the owl, there was another ribbon. The owl dropped the ribbon into Sarah's other hand, then flew off of Sarah's arm and back to the statue. Sarah looked at the owl and than turned around so that she could read the ribbon.
Dear Sarah, I have missed you so much, since the last time you were in the Underground. Would you like to come back? I can take you there! Please answer me Sarah.
Yours Truly, Jareth When Sarah turned around to look at the owl again it was gone. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around frightened to see that a tall, slender, but built man with gold hair, and mismatched eyes was looking at her.
"Jareth, it's you!"
"Hello Sarah!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Did you not just read my note?"
"Well, yes I did. I just don't understand it, that's all."
"What is there to understand Sarah? I just want you to come back with me to the Underground! So that we can be together. Isn't that what you want?"
"What? No! How did you get that idea Jareth?"
"Is that not why you came home? So that you could see me."
"No Jareth! I came home because, well it is not your business. Besides you would not understand."
"What is to understand?"
"Okay if I tell you will you leave me alone?" Jareth nodded his head in agreement.
"Since the time that I had been in the Underground, I have been married, to a man named Jared. He was everything I could ever wish for. Everything was great for the first month, but after that things started to change about him. He got more caught up in his work than in me. But I just shrugged it off, I thought it was just a phase that he was going through. Then it proceeded to get much, much worse. To the point where I found out that he was cheating on me, but I let that go too. I really loved him, and I was willing to let anything slide. Then he would not come home. So I called him at work one day and told him to come home so that I could talk to him. I really needed to let him know how I felt. So he came home, I told him, he apologized, and promised never to do anything like that again. Things went well for a while, but then he was back in his routine, ignoring me. And last night was our anniversary, I had something really nice planned for the evening, I leave that to you to think what you want. Anyway, he came home and I told him to come in the bedroom that I had something for him. He came in saw me dressed up and the candles lit. But he just blew me off. So I told him that we were through. Then he punched me, so I kicked him in the crotch. And that's why I came home!"
"I know Sarah, I know what happened! It's okay!
"How do you know about that?" Sarah began to cry.
"Because you told me!"
"When?"
"Last night, when I came into your room. You told me everything about you marriage to Jared!"
"I thought that was a dream!"
"I am afraid not! Oh and how is you eye by the way?"
"Fine! Why?"
"Because I held it for you last night!"
"So that would explain, why my black eyes was gone this morning!"
"Precisely Sarah!"
"Damn it! I really hate him, why does very one have to hurt me?"
"Sarah I am not here to hurt you, I would never hurt you!"
"My life just sucks! Why did this have to happen to me?"
"It is okay Sarah. I am here!" He approached her and wrapped his arms around her. Sarah began to cry. So Jareth held her tighter and stroked her hair. Sarah pulled away for a moment.
"If you knew then why the hell did you make me tell you? Did you want to see me miserable?"
"No! And I wanted you to tell me because I wanted you to be able to let out your frustrations. And because I wanted to see if you really wanted it to be through."
"Jareth, I just want to be happy. Is that so much to ask?"
"No Sarah that is why I am here. I am the one that can make all your dreams come true. I will treat you the way that you should be treated. He should never have laid a hand on you Sarah! He had no right!"
"Thank you Jareth!"
"For what?"
"For understanding."
"Your welcome. So will you not join me in the Underground?"
"Jareth I can't. It is not that I don't appreciate what you are trying to do for me. It's just that I don't want to leave home. I have so many memories here, that I could never give up. Even for you Jareth."
"I see."
"I am sorry!"
"Well, I will just have to find another way to be with you!"
"And what way would that be?"
"You will see!" And with that Jareth was gone.
Then Sarah woke up. She looked at the clock and it read, 11:23 AM. Crawling out of bed she went into the bathroom. Grabbing her toothbrush and some toothpaste and brushed her teeth. As she was brushing her teeth she looked in the mirror and saw that the black eye was completely gone. She did not know what to think.
"Wow that is one strong working ice pack." She shrugged it off and started for the stairs, glancing out the window on her way, just to think about the owl that she saw the night before. As she looked at the branch that the owl had been sitting on, she noticed a ribbon, waving in the breeze. She opened the window and carefully loosened the ribbon from the branch. She looked at it and it had gold writing on it. It read,
Welcome home my love, till we meet again,
Yours truly, Jareth. Sarah had to read it again to make sure that what she was reading was in fact what it said. She took the ribbon and brought it to her room, placed it in the Labyrinth book, glancing at it for a few more moments and than closing the book to go back down stairs.
"Good morning everyone!"
"Well good morning Sarah, nice to see that you are up. It also looks like the swelling went down on that black eye of yours."
"Yeah! What is in that ice pack anyways?"
"Ah, water why?"
"Oh I just thought that the ice pack worked really well, and wanted to know if there was any specific reason as to why it would. I just thought that I should still have a black eye that's all."
"Well, nope, just water, sorry!"
"Sarah you still look very tired. Did you sleep well last night?" Karen asked.
"Oh, yeah I slept well, thanks, I was just reading really late that's all. Don't worry about it, I am sure that I will go to bed earlier tonight."
"Okay, well I have to take Toby to school, and then I am going to go shopping. Would you like to join me?"
"No thank you Karen, I really need to get some things done here, like unpacking, and going to work, things like that. But thanks again!"
"Okay! But if you change your mind, just call my cell. Here's the number." Karen handed Sarah a piece of note paper with her cell phone number written on it.
"Thanks!" Sarah ate some Honeycomb cereal, (Toby's favorite kind), at the dinner table while reading a magazine. When she finished she put the bowl in the dishwasher, and brought herself to her room. She grabbed the clothes that she decided to wear for the day and went into the bathroom. Turned on the shower, got out of her pajamas and went in. It felt so good having the hot water run down she back. She got out, got changed and brushed her hair. She had finally finished unpacking and drove to work.
"Hey Jessica, how are you today?" Sarah asked, passing one of her employees. Sarah is the owner of a successful clothing store. She loves her job, taking such pride in working it, her favorite part of her job is designing the clothes that she sells. Sarah sells everything from, dress suits, to wedding gowns. The name of her store is called Tres Jolie meaning 'Very Pretty'.
"Hey Brenda, how are you?"
"Hello Sarah, good thanks you?"
"Ah, rough night, but other than that I am great! Hey do you have any messages for me?"
"Yeah, Jared called seven times. He sounds every upset!"
"Well he should be, I left him!"
"What! Why!"
"Because yesterday was our anniversary, and he wanted to do work instead of being with me. But it did not just start there, this has been piling up. So anyways I told him I was fed up with his bull shit! And that I could not take it anymore. And when I got to the door to leave he punched me so I kicked him and left."
"Wow! Sarah! Maybe you should take the day off. I'll keep in charge for you. You need to get out of here and do something that is going to make you feel better!"
"Thank you Brenda, but I'd much rather stay here!"
"Yeah well, what if he decides to drop by and give you a piece of his mind?"
"Oh! I did not think of that! Okay, maybe you are right, I could go to the park for a while and read."
"Yes! Good, you go and do that!" Brenda said patting Sarah on the back, while walking her to the front door.
"Thanks again!"
"No problem!"
Sarah headed for the park that she visited so often as a young girl. At this park, this was where she would cat out scenes from the Labyrinth with her dog, Merlin. Merlin had died three years ago when Sarah had turned nineteen. Sarah got to the park and went to a bench and took a seat. She looked at the little stream that ran from under the bridge, there were swans swimming by. She leaned over and looked at her reflection in the water. She could see behind her a statue, and on top of the statue there was an owl. She sat back up and slowly started to turn around to look at the owl directly. The owl did not move from its spot. She got up from the bench and walked over to the statue.
"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle, beyond the Goblin city! To take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great! You have not power over me!" She recited. And she was very proud of herself for remembering the last line, after some many times of forgetting it. The owl looked at Sarah with understanding eyes, then the owl spread open its wings and flew over to Sarah. She put out her arm. The owl landed on it, Sarah could see that within the beak of the owl, there was another ribbon. The owl dropped the ribbon into Sarah's other hand, then flew off of Sarah's arm and back to the statue. Sarah looked at the owl and than turned around so that she could read the ribbon.
Dear Sarah, I have missed you so much, since the last time you were in the Underground. Would you like to come back? I can take you there! Please answer me Sarah.
Yours Truly, Jareth When Sarah turned around to look at the owl again it was gone. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around frightened to see that a tall, slender, but built man with gold hair, and mismatched eyes was looking at her.
"Jareth, it's you!"
"Hello Sarah!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Did you not just read my note?"
"Well, yes I did. I just don't understand it, that's all."
"What is there to understand Sarah? I just want you to come back with me to the Underground! So that we can be together. Isn't that what you want?"
"What? No! How did you get that idea Jareth?"
"Is that not why you came home? So that you could see me."
"No Jareth! I came home because, well it is not your business. Besides you would not understand."
"What is to understand?"
"Okay if I tell you will you leave me alone?" Jareth nodded his head in agreement.
"Since the time that I had been in the Underground, I have been married, to a man named Jared. He was everything I could ever wish for. Everything was great for the first month, but after that things started to change about him. He got more caught up in his work than in me. But I just shrugged it off, I thought it was just a phase that he was going through. Then it proceeded to get much, much worse. To the point where I found out that he was cheating on me, but I let that go too. I really loved him, and I was willing to let anything slide. Then he would not come home. So I called him at work one day and told him to come home so that I could talk to him. I really needed to let him know how I felt. So he came home, I told him, he apologized, and promised never to do anything like that again. Things went well for a while, but then he was back in his routine, ignoring me. And last night was our anniversary, I had something really nice planned for the evening, I leave that to you to think what you want. Anyway, he came home and I told him to come in the bedroom that I had something for him. He came in saw me dressed up and the candles lit. But he just blew me off. So I told him that we were through. Then he punched me, so I kicked him in the crotch. And that's why I came home!"
"I know Sarah, I know what happened! It's okay!
"How do you know about that?" Sarah began to cry.
"Because you told me!"
"When?"
"Last night, when I came into your room. You told me everything about you marriage to Jared!"
"I thought that was a dream!"
"I am afraid not! Oh and how is you eye by the way?"
"Fine! Why?"
"Because I held it for you last night!"
"So that would explain, why my black eyes was gone this morning!"
"Precisely Sarah!"
"Damn it! I really hate him, why does very one have to hurt me?"
"Sarah I am not here to hurt you, I would never hurt you!"
"My life just sucks! Why did this have to happen to me?"
"It is okay Sarah. I am here!" He approached her and wrapped his arms around her. Sarah began to cry. So Jareth held her tighter and stroked her hair. Sarah pulled away for a moment.
"If you knew then why the hell did you make me tell you? Did you want to see me miserable?"
"No! And I wanted you to tell me because I wanted you to be able to let out your frustrations. And because I wanted to see if you really wanted it to be through."
"Jareth, I just want to be happy. Is that so much to ask?"
"No Sarah that is why I am here. I am the one that can make all your dreams come true. I will treat you the way that you should be treated. He should never have laid a hand on you Sarah! He had no right!"
"Thank you Jareth!"
"For what?"
"For understanding."
"Your welcome. So will you not join me in the Underground?"
"Jareth I can't. It is not that I don't appreciate what you are trying to do for me. It's just that I don't want to leave home. I have so many memories here, that I could never give up. Even for you Jareth."
"I see."
"I am sorry!"
"Well, I will just have to find another way to be with you!"
"And what way would that be?"
"You will see!" And with that Jareth was gone.