Chapter 5 (part 1): Trust

Jack was still sliding when suddenly he felt like someone had grabbed his hand in both of theirs, and he was jerked to a halt. He looked down to discover that his hand was indeed held in the ghostly grip of two other angelic looking hands. They were faint shining outlines of something real, something to hold on to. A whisper came to him, not a part of the wind, but hard to hear all the same.

"Hold on Jack. Hold on to me."

As Jack stood there startled by what had happened, he heard something else. It took him a moment to realize that it was many voices, something he'd never heard before, and it sounded like it was a part of the wind. It was many people, all echoing the same words.

"I'm alone

In this vast land,

There's nothing here

But your hands.

Your voice

Echoing softly,

Telling me

To hold on to thee.

I'll hold on,

Hold on to you.

You're all I have

To hold on to.

Don't leave me here

Where I may lose my way.

I don't want to be lost

Or to wander astray.

I'm holding on to you."

He realized that it was a poem of this place. Whoever had started that had been here and must have somehow made it a part of the wind and when someone repeated it, their voice was added to the mix. Soon it was gone, leaving him alone with his angel. He now realized that the ghostly hands belonged to Sue, along with the soft voice in his ear. He stood there calmly, blissfully unaware of time. Nothing seemed to matter now that Sue was here, and all of his fears were banished by the simple touch of her hands.

Time passed him by, but now time was just as unreal as the land that surrounded him. Sue had been silent for a time now, but every once and a while, he thought that he could hear her crying. He wished she could know just how much she meant to him. Not just at this moment when her hands were the only part of reality for him to hold on to, but how much she had impacted his life. She had brought him to a crossroads in his life and relationships. She was steady, calm, and he knew that she would be there through everything, even if it broke her heart. Standing here in the cold and dark desert, he was filled with a warmth that came from her, from the reality that he truly did love her.

I have to hold on. Jack thought, Sue's telling me to hold on. He was relieved that she was here with him in any way possible. She had helped him make that decision, and he knew that he wasn't totally alone.

Suddenly he felt her grip loosen and her hand start to slide out of his. He panicked tightening his grip on her hand. He couldn't stand being alone. He needed her to be there for him, especially now. If she left he was sure that he'd slip into the pit and probably fall into the pool at the bottom. With her here, he knew that he could make the journey through the desert. Jack tried desperately to move forward, but it was as if his feet were cemented to the ground, not allowing him to pick up his feet and take even one step. He started to get frustrated and was afraid that he'd be stuck here forever, alone. Then he heard her again. Her voice was faint, but it was there, no matter how quiet, and it was reassuring.

"I won't leave you Jack. Trust me. Keep holding on."

Jack smiled slightly as he whispered to the wind, "I do trust you."