Eight years later…
Thoughts ran through her head, as Kelsey stumbled out of the automatic doors of the hospital. With her hands shaking furiously from the cold and shock, she clambered into her parked car and just sat there in silence; before breaking into tears. Large drops fell from her cheeks and landed on her blouse, leaving wet trails.
The reason for her visit to the hospital and her emotional breakdown, the explanation behind her being nauseous, dizzy and lightheaded lately, was that cancer has been forming on her left side of the brain. Her doctor revealed that she only had eight months left to live and that it was too large to do surgery.
I am only 25 and I am going to die soon.
Her life had not been fair to her for the past eight years. After meeting the mysterious dwarf from another dimension, Kelsey's life changed drastically. Four years after graduating from high school and almost completing her course in becoming a nurse, her best friend Georgia died in a car crash, claiming both her and her boyfriend, Chris's lives. Kelsey was never the same after that. She fell into a depression and kept herself busy with archery, fencing and martial arts. She was able to pull herself out of that depression but the damage was done. Her relationship with her parents diminished and she barely spoke them.
Putting her car into drive, Kelsey quickly made her way back to her house, narrowing missing a stray cat who had bounded onto the road. She scrambled out of the vehicle and made her way to her front door. Throwing her boots into the corner of the dining room, Kelsey poured herself a glass of vodka and lemonade and slouched down on the bar stool. She subconsciously stared at her mobile, trying to bring herself to call her parents for the first time in four years to tell the news, but she couldn't bring herself to pick it up.
Instead she walked to the glass windows and watched raindrops slide down the glass, as it had started to drizzle. She started to play with her amethyst pendant; a gift from her father for her 10th birthday. She rarely took it off as it felt important in her life.
Suddenly white movement outside caught her eye. Peering closer to the glass, she recognised it as the same white ball of light that she had seen eight years ago. Feeling the sudden urge to follow it; Kelsey raced to her room and threw possible supplies needed. Umbrella, a torch, a jumper, compass, her first aid kit, matches, an extra set of clothes, some snacks and her water bottle. She didn't care that she was wearing jeans, a purple tank top and her black leather jacket as she rushed to her hiking boots, throwing them on and dashed outside where the ball of light awaited her arrival.
She followed it for 2o minutes and what seemed like a lifetime, Kelsey found herself in the same location where she first met Kili, the dwarf from another world. Over time, the water had risen and the landscape had changed slightly but still looked the same. Turning her torch on for night had developed and made her way over rocks to the spot where the light had settled.
"Okay, Kelsey, whatever you do; don't freak out, if you turn up at another world," she mumbled to herself as she gently touched the bobbing light; causing a startled reaction through her body as the power of the light surged through her. Next thing she knew, Kelsey was laying in the middle of a small grove, surrounded by familiar creatures, that she hadn't seen in a long time and was hoping to never come across again.
"What'ssss thisss?" sneered one of the orcs, peering close; its breath smelling of rotten meat. She instantly wished that she had remembered to bring her fencing sword. Others screeched, eager to devour her flesh.
"Well, um, I," she spluttered, getting up to her trembling feet. This was not good, she thought as a plan started to form.
"Speak, girlie," demanded what seemed to be the leader, brandishing its sword towards her. He stabbed her shoulder with it and Kelsey cried out in pain as she could feel the blood trickling down her arm inside her jacket. While the orcs cheered at her pain, she took the chance and raced off, through the thick trees. Yells from the orcs could be heard all around as they noticed her disappearance.
Just keep going, Kelsey. It seems you have come to Middle Earth.