DeNial is Not a River In Egypt
"Sarah, please say something."
"Something," Sarah replied sarcastically.
She and Sam were sitting on the bed, the sketch pad in between them. The latter had just finished telling the former about her experiences in the underground, and/or subconscious. Sarah was trying to process all the information her sister had just given her as she nervously twirled her hair. Sam sat quietly, trying not to go crazy with suspense. Sarah got up and walked toward the full length mirror, noticing the thoughtful expression she had on her own face.
The room had been deathly silent, that is until Sarah lost it. "Why the hell didn't you tell me about this earlier," Sarah yelled at her startled younger sister.
"Woe, hold up," Sam replied, her voice raising to match her sister's. "It's not like you were in any hurry to tell me about your little adventure either."
Sarah paused, taken aback. "That...is so not the same thing," Sarah replied, more to convince herself.
"What," she replied, getting up from her position on the bed. "Sarah, cut down on that load of crap, because I don't have any shovels in this room."
"Sam," Sarah lowered her voice. "I'm sorry. It's just that, I'm your big sister, and I'm supposed to protect you. I just wish you would have let me help you through this."
"Oh, this isn't just about me not telling you is it?"
"Sam, your whole family has been striving to help you for years. I just don't understand how meeting the Goblin King a few times could have helped you so much."
"Sarah, you guys did help me, more than you know. There was never a time that I felt unloved. I just needed the kind of person that would push me to take action. You know his majesty isn't exactly tactful. In fact, I think through the whole ordeal I wanted to slap him more than I wanted to hug him. He has that affect on people. He makes you appear weak, so it inspires you to prove him wrong."
Sarah and Sam were now facing each other, inches from the window. Their heads snapped over to it as thunder rolled in the distance. Another storm was lurking on the horizon.
"Well, I have to admit," Sarah replied, once again looking at her sister. "that I agree with you on that one. I think that's what pushed me to keep going through his Labyrinth."
"Sarah, what was it like?"
"Honestly, it was a little scary. But, it was also adventurous, thought provoking, necessary, romantic," Sarah silently added to herself.
Sam could sense that her sister was hiding something, but didn't push her. She had a feeling she would find out soon enough anyway.
"Necessary," Sam questioned.
"Yeah, I'm sure you have heard stories about my teen years, I wasn't exactly an angel."
"Oh, yeah. I kinda figured that considering you wished Toby away."
"You had to remind me didn't you."
Sam chuckled and Sarah joined in.
"I remember how angry I was with him when he took Toby. I thought everything was so unfair." Sarah smiled despite the seriousness of the moment.
"Do you think Jareth is evil, Sarah?"
"I used to. But, as a person gets older things aren't so black and white anymore. You start to see a few shades of gray mixed in. Like, when the Goblin King took Toby, I thought of him as a baby stealer. But, as I got older I realized that I had basically made a verbal contract with him to take the baby. So, he made me earn him back."
"You mean you couldn't just bat your eyes and say please," Sam replied in a teasing tone.
"Yeah, well I thought of that, and it didn't work," she replied laughing.
After a moment of silent, Sarah continued. "I know that he is far from being a saint, but, I don't really think he was evil. But, god,I just wanted to slap him all the time."
"As I said, Jareth has that affect on people."
"Sam, I notice that is the second time you have called him Jareth."
"Really, well, that is his name isn't it?"
"Yes, but, it's kind of casual. I guess you have gotten to know him quite well."
"Yeah, I suppose we have gotten pretty close, at least close for the Goblin King."
"Oh, well that's surprising."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, it's just, I find it hard to believe that you became close considering neither one of you are the most open people in the world."
Sam noticed the icy undertone in Sarah voice, which unnerved as well as angered her. It was very rare for Sarah's manner to become cold. But, when it did, chills run down a person's spine. And if Sam remembered correctly this was third time in her whole life that she came across this side of Sarah. Another one being quite recent, the day she got drunk.
"Sarah, if I didn't know any better I would sware that was jealousy in your voice."
"Jealousy, don't be ridiculous. You can be friends with whoever you want. You can marry him and bare his children for all I care."
"So, that's what you've been hiding."
Meanwhile down on the patio
Toby flipped the last patty on the barbecue. He looked up and noticed dark clouds forming. Another clap of thunder roared as he as he turned off the gas and and closed the top of the barbecue. He suddenly got a bad feeling as he noticed the first bolt of lightning strike. He walked inside the house suddenly wanting to check on his sisters, not understanding the slight feeling of dread washing over him. He jumped as the telephone rang. He put the plate of hamburgers down and walked over to it.
"Hello, oh hi honey. Oh, I have missed you too, Nancy."
Toby sat back in the chair, forgetting the uncanny feeling he had moments earlier.
Back in Sam's room
"Sam , you are seriously reaching. I don't have any feelings for the Goblin King but nausea."
"Denial is a very classic symptom, Sarah."
"I think you are a classic, nut case."
"Insults, symptom number two."
"Ugh, forget it. I am going downstairs." Sarah stormed across the room toward the door.
"Sarah, wait." Sam grabbed her sister's arm and on impulse Sarah turned and grabbed hers. Suddenly a bright light emerged between them and an unseen force pulled them apart. They were thrown backwards and landed on opposite sides of the room. The girls were aware of another clap of thunder before they blacked out. Then it began to rain.