Loren stood alone in the street.

"Where did he go?"

"I guess the Ellimist took him away."

Loren looked in shock towards the voice.

"Oh. Alan."

"I forgot you were there."

Alan touched Loren's arm, guiding her back to their house.

"No," Loren said. She would not enter the house. "If I go in there, I'm giving up on him."

"He said he's our son. We'll see him sometime."

"There had to be a reason he came back," she said urgently, "Maybe we WON'T see him."

"I'm staying out here."

Elfangor went back inside and left Loren to her imaginings.

*************************************************************************************

"Hello."

Loren looked up to see a being bathed in a peaceful green light. It was obvious to her that he was related to the Ellimist, but he looked different, besides the color. He came to sit by Loren on the front step.

"This stupid Green Light follows me everywhere."

Loren stared, not quite sure what to make of this magical man sitting beside her like nothing.

"Who are you?"

"I don't have a name. The Ellimist is my brother, but I would never be so pretentious. You can call me Joshua if you want," he suggested, saying the first name he thought of.

"Joshua." Loren held out her hand. She wondered if she had made a mistake. Joshua took her hand and stood up. She stood up too, wondering what he meant. He looked to the street and so did she. Something was different. No, everything was different.

WHERE ARE WE!?, Loren's mind shouted.

"Is he here?"

"Yes. He's at the mall with his friends."

Loren smiled.

"He has friends?"

Joshua nodded.

"I guess the mall is in the same place it was before. I hope I can find it." Loren laughed a little. She started to walk away.

"Joshua? What's wrong with your brother?"

"That's a hard question to answer."

"It doesn't matter."

Loren turned away to find her son.