Epilogue: Five Years Later

I stood before the lake once again on the one year anniversary of the end of WWIII. I was correct in my decision to stay neutral. The war had played its course, and many countries had been devastated. Burma, now one of the world's leading countries right up there with the United States, had been mostly undamaged. North Korea and South Korea had ended the war peacefully, and the demilitarized zone cutting between them had been dissolved. Conferences were already being arranged to discuss making the two countries into one: United Korea. I reached my hand out and grabbed my boyfriend James's hand. I had told them what happened, and my Father and James were the only ones who had truly believed me. I clutched the bottle with my lengthy letter to my friends tucked inside.

"James, I'm going to toss the letter in and hope it goes through. If it doesn't, well, I don't know what I'll do. I miss all of them so much."

"I hope this works Ray, I really do. I know how much they all mean to you. Maybe, if this works, you can send more letters back and forth." He replied.

"I hope so…" I stared into the still surface of the lake where it had all started so many years ago. Before I could think twice, I threw the bottle into the middle of the lake. It floated on the surface for a bit, and my heart sank. But then, suddenly, it disappeared from sight with a faint plop.

"It works!" I shouted joyously, and pulled James in for a tight and thankful hug.

Nick and Mya were holding hands walking around the fence of one of the horse enclosures. The day was hot and dry on the cattle ranch they had been living on after escaping the Japanese's attempt at taking over Burma.

"I wonder how Sarae's been doing back in her time."Nick commented out of the blue. Mya looked sadly at the horses frisking around, and answered.

"I guess we will never know. It has been five years. Her world could have been destroyed by, what are they called again?"She scrunched up her nose in though, her long glossy hair swishing back and forth in frustration.

"Nuclear weapons, sweetheart." Nick said cheekily. Mya swatted at him, but was distracted by commotion at one of the water troughs in the horse enclosure. Some of the horses were nervously circling the container, whickering softly with their ears back. Curious, Nick and Mya jogged over.

When they got there, they were surprised to see a bottle floating on the surface with a piece of paper in it. When they pulled it out, they discovered it was a letter from the last person they would have expected: Sarae.

Dear beloved Friends,

I hope this letter reaches you. I threw it into the lake and wished with all my heart that it would reach you. I've missed you guys so much. Many times I have contemplated jumping back into the lake, but then I would have to leave all the people that I love in my world as well. If you write back then I will have proof that you really exist and my boyfriend will let me visit! Oh yeah, I have a boyfriend now, his name is James .I love the buffoon, and life is certainly interesting with him around. I'm sure you want to know what happened after I got back. Burma stayed neutral, and survived the war in one piece. Everything is peaceful, and the world is rebuilding. Surprisingly, no nuclear weapons were set of. How is life with you? If you two aren't together yet I will personally murder you! If this has indeed reached you, I assume that you can send it back the way it came. I will be camping around the lake for the next day in hopes that you will write back. Say high to everyone for me!

P.S James wanted me to tell you that if you write back he will come with me when I visit! I'm so excited, now you HAVE to write back!

With all the love in the world times ten,

Sarae

Nick and Mya smiled at each other and ran to the house, screaming for a pen and paper from a very confused Indaw the whole way.