A few months passed. Eugene and Sahara have become very close friends, just as I had hoped. He did come back with the pictures and I have mine framed and on the wall. Sahara grew out her golden hair to her waist. She looks even lovelier than ever.
Eugene got this feeling that I have a crush on her so he teases me about that...thankfully not when Sahara is around. I got my own job at mother's bakery. Now I'm helping mother in the kitchen. Sometimes I take over her job at the counter but not often.
There are only a few more days until college lets out for the summer. Eugene is super excited about that because he said that he could work more at his summer job at the hospital. Surprisingly enough, Eugene is very intent on working there. Sahara doesn't know what she wants yet and all I know is that I want something that makes me work around electronics. I have always been a fan of technology and hope to dive into it more.
I've been walking Sahara home lately as she's scared that her father escaped from prison. I don't blame her. She's been calling me at nights to keep her company. Honestly, she has a lot of things to talk about.
"Hey, Roland?" Sahara asked over the phone. "Do you mind if we do something together? Over summer? You, me and Eugene? It would be fun and we haven't REALLY hung out if you know what I mean."
"I don't mind. I'm not even that busy. Mother is giving me a break over the summer so I'll be free all summer pretty much."
"That's great! I'll talk to Eugene later about it then!" She paused for a minute. "Could we go to the movies? There is this movie there I wanted to watch."
"Sure. What is the movie exactly?"
"It's about this girl who went to another world. The world is filled with magic and all sorts of different people. Like cats and mice, stuff like that. She gets trapped and has to figure out a way to return home."
"That sounds intriguing," I replied.
"The movie took two years to make and it's finally coming out tomorrow. I'm super excited to see it!"
"Great. I'll be waiting for it then!" She hung up. A girl who went to another world. That sounds like the story mother used to tell me all the time. The story was about this boy, no older than thirteen, who traveled between two worlds, taking a fairy along with him, and saving both worlds from complete destruction. I used to love that story and have mother tell me it every night. I drove my brothers crazy with it, but I didn't care. Mother used to tell all sorts of stories but that one, by far, was, and is, my favorite.
I wonder if Sahara ever had a similar story told?
School's out for the summer. Eugene said that he was actually very booked at the hospital at the moment so he couldn't come to the movies with us, leaving Sahara and I to watch it ourselves. I offered to drive Sahara.
She decided it would be best to watch it later, to give it more of the 'movie theater feel.' I didn't mind, honestly.
So around seven thirty, I picked up Sahara. Sure, the family car wasn't the nicest, but I did my best to clean out the inside. "This is a nice car!" Sahara said. "It's very clean!" Hearing that made me smile. I'm glad I cleaned it up enough that she doesn't even know it was dirty to begin with.
Once we arrived, Sahara became more and more excited to see the movie. She kept bouncing in the seat and talking about what she thought was going to happen in the movie. The more she talked, the more I couldn't help but smile. She is so excited. It's nice to see optimism.
Sahara stared at the screen. In fact, she never even took her eyes off of it. She missed her popcorn most of the time but she found it. The movie showed the adventure of a girl, age ten, who was teleported to another world called 'Ni No Kuni.' She found friendship in a rat and they traveled the other world together, stopping the evil force known as 'Vileheart' to save both worlds from calamity. She almost failed a few times but in the end, she succeeded, which makes for a good story.
Once the movie was over, Sahara sat in her seat for a little while, staring at the screen. "You okay?" I asked.
"I'm good. No, wait. I'm better than good. I'm great! That movie was the best thing I've ever seen! I'm definitely getting that when it comes on DVD!"
"It was a good movie," I said.
"We should probably head home though. I have a curfew."
"Right."
We left the theater together. Sahara mentioned her favorite part of the movie was when the girl teleported to the other world. She said it looked like something out of a dream. She said, if she had a choice, that she would love to see it.
"Hop in," I said, opening the door for her.
"Thanks for the night, Roland. It was really fun."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," I said, smiling.
We took off for the road. The road we took on the way here was closed down for maintenance so we took the highway. Sahara just kept chatting about the movie. "Roland? What was your favorite part?"
"My favorite part?" She nodded, eager to hear my answer. "Hm...probably when she found her hidden potential as a wizard. I also liked the story. It reminded me of my favorite story growing up."
"What was that?" Sahara asked.
"Well, it was something mother always told me. She used to say that this thirteen year old boy was gifted with the power of a wizard. He traveled to the other world and fought off this dark force named Shadar. The boy found new friends and allies who helped him on his quest to save his mother. In the end, he defeated Shadar but it was too late for his mother. However, he did find peace as he could travel between the two worlds at will and see his friends whenever he pleased. Mother always asked me to find the ending on my own."
"What did you come up with?"
"Well...I figured he just traveled between both worlds. Sometimes, he would bring his friends from the other world to his home. He would even take his best friend from his world to the other world. Honestly, no one has ever asked about what I thought before."
"Really? Why not?"
"I don't know. I think they might think I'm ridiculous for 'coming up' with that story so I never really told anyone else."
"Oh, well. I like it. You can tell me the story all you like and I would hear it every time!"
I smiled. I'm glad I can actually tell someone else my story. Eugene always asked me about it but he never believed it. He was better than most. But Sahara...she actually believes it. She believes in the story, like I do.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a car screeching. Before I could react, everything went dark.
I came to in a room I've never hoped to see again. A hospital room. I sat up quickly. I winced as I did. I looked at my arm to see it in a sling. Did I break my arm?
"Roland!" my mother's voice called. She ran into the room with father and two of my siblings. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," I replied.
"What happened?" Jason asked. My older brother looked like he just got off of school. "I was just driving back home from the theater with..." Suddenly, I remembered Sahara was in my car. "Sahara! Is she okay?"
"She came as well. She is a worse state than you though," father replied.
"Can I see her?" I asked. The doctor in the room nodded. My sister led me down a hallway and into a room. Sahara is lying on a hospital bed. She has a Pulse Oximetry on her finger. "Sahara," I called, walking over to her bedside. "Are you okay?"
Sahara opened her eyes and turned to look at me. "Roland, you're okay." I nodded. "Are you okay?" I asked again.
"I'll be fine." A doctor walked into the room. "Ah, her friend. So you're awake now. That's good."
"What happened?" I asked.
"There was an accident on the highway you were driving down. There was this drunk driver and he managed to break past the barricade on the road and switch lanes. He crashed into you."
"Is he okay?" Sahara asked.
"Yes, the man lived and seemed to have just a few injuries."
"Will Sahara be okay?" I checked.
"Yes, she will be just fine. She will have to stay in here for a while but she will recover very quickly," the doctor replied, writing things down on her clipboard. Eugene ran into the room. "Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine," I replied.
"Sorry, I couldn't come sooner. I got held up cleaning."
"Thank you for coming, Eugene," mother said. "It means a lot to Roland."
"At least you guys are okay," Eugene said, sighing.
"Thank you, Eugene," Sahara said.
"For what?"
"For coming to check on us." She smiled. It's nice to see her smile, even in a time like this.
Author's Note
This cover picture actually is mine. I do own that art.
Anyway, The Pulse Oximeter is the little thing doctors put on your finger to check your oxygen rate and your heart rate, just in case you didn't know. Thank you for reading so far and I hope you continue to enjoy!