Chapter 17
Until I found something that wasn't right, everything was out of my control. The bird flew forward to the window, even when I shouted "Stop!" in my top voice.
Swoosh!
I felt that I had rushed into the sun. It was so warm, and it even felt soft. I felt like I was lying in my mother's arms, just like when I was little. I even could hear her whisper, Aurora…
…Aurora…
Hey! There really seemed to be someone calling my name! I opened my eyes. Everything in my sight was golden. There was a woman looking at me with a kind smile. She looked just like my mother!
"Mother," I said in a weak voice, "Is that you?"
"No, I'm not," said the golden beauty. "But if you like it, I will keep this sight for you."
Just then, Cynelith said with a dream-like voice, "You look like someone I remember, too. But you're not my mother; you look like someone I know. You look really kind to me…"
The golden beauty smiled at Cynelith. "My face is of your mother's, but I'm not your real mother."
She looks different to everyone, I thought. I'm serious–
what would she look like to the bird's eyes?
The golden beauty went forward to a table that had been made up just a few minutes ago. She got a teapot from the air and poured some tea in some cups that had appeared at the same time. She handed us the tea. The tea looked golden like her color, too.
"Drink something," she said. "If you want to eat, I have some treats, too."
The golden tea smelled really nice. It had the scent of cinnamon rolls and coffee beans. Suddenly, a piece of memory jumped into my head. My mom, the elf–this was her favorite drink. I felt like I was going to cry because I realized how much I missed my mother. I heard some sobs. It seemed like Cynelith was already crying.
"Why are you crying?" the lady suddenly said. She was so close to me that I could even count how many eyelashes she had. "Isn't that delicious? I remembered your mom didn't like milk, so I didn't add any. Would you like any milk?"
"No, thanks," I said with a sad voice. She does hate milk; she's allergic to it.
"Then drink it," she said with a magical voice. "Drink it and stay with your mother forever. She must have really missed you." Suddenly the light from the woman went down. She looked more true, like a human. And she changed into exactly how my mom looked. "Drink it," she said with my mother's voice. "And stay with me forever."
Suddenly the tea cup in my hand had been knocked down. The beautiful cup and the golden liquid inside fell to the ground and splashed everywhere.
"Don't worry," said the golden woman with a plain voice. "I will give you another cup."
"No! Don't drink it!" suddenly I heard someone shouted. It was Cynelith. "Let's get out of here! This is all magic, and it's not the real thing! Don't you see, Aurora? She's a witch! If you drink that thing, you will never come out from your own dreams!"
I was shocked. But then the golden woman sighed with sadness. "What a dumb girl. People who live in that time are all like her, ignorant and greedy. She has just gotten what she wants. But then she came to stop you from getting your dreams. Don't you see her cup? She has drank it herself."
I looked at the cup she was pointing to. It really was empty. "I didn't drink it!" said Cynelith with an angry voice. "I poured it all onto the floor."
The witch laughed. "What a silly excuse she has found for herself! Stay with me, Aurora. You can let your stupid friend get out of your life forever. You'll never suffer from her again if you stay with me. The only thing you need to do is to nod."
Cynelith looked pale. "You must believe me, Aurora."