"Wake up... wake up..."
Four year old Karen woke. A voice. A voice had been in her head. A person, too. She had never heard the voice, but knew the person. Had never met the person, but still knew and loved her. Loved her unquestioningly the way all little girls love. So, naturally, she had to do what she said.
Karen slid her feet over off the bed, dropping them down onto the rug. It was dark out, still, but her My Little Pony nightlight was more than bright enough to keep her safe. Her feet sliding into pink fuzzy slippers, she grabbed her favorite stuffed doll and quickly moved to the bedroom door.
The hallway was quiet. A small nightlight, NOT a My Little Pony one, glowed softly near the floor. It lit the path to the bathroom, which she was very proud to say she had been using alone for a LONG time now, as well as to her parent's room. That was where she had to go. But, first...
Moving quickly, Karen went to the end of the hall and into the living room. There, in the basket Mommy had bought just the other day, were the puppies, Fred and Wilma. Those were funny names! Karen bent down, keeping a firm grip on her dolly, reaching out to wake her new pets.
"Fred! Wilma! Wake up!"
They did, like good puppies. Fred raised his head, eyes opening slowly. On seeing her, though, he sprang up. Wilma was just a moment behind. Knowing there was little time, even if she didn't know HOW she knew that, Karen quickly ran back into the hall and down to her parent's bedroom. The puppies followed.
"Mommy! Daddy! Wake up!"
As Karen burst into their bedroom, she saw her parents were ALREADY up! They sat up in bed, eyes widening as she entered. Karen stopped at the foot of the bed, hopping up and down.
"Mommy! I saw Mary! She spoke to me! Said everyone had to get in the same room with Daddy, so I brought the puppies!"
Daddy looked at Mommy, eyes wide.
"She heard it too. What..."
Light burst into the bedroom.
It was a mirror. But not a mirror. It didn't show Karen, like a real mirror, but another person. A girl... her sister! It was her sister Mary! It was her! She looked just like in her pictures! Karen jumped up and down, excited. She had always wanted to see her sister! She wore a pink skirt, and a white shirt. Her belly was a bit big, as if she had eaten a HUGE meal. Mary held her right arm near her hand, as if she had hurt it, but smiled a big smile. A large sign hung from her neck, with writing on it. Karen knew her letters. Had learned them last year. She didn't know words, but she knew the letters:
"Dad, I am alive and well. And happy! Can not see you. I love you. Door will close in 30 seconds."
Before she knew it, Daddy was picking up Karen, holding her tight. His eyes were wet. He was crying! She looked back for Mommy, and saw her out of bed as well, fingers moving swiftly over her phone. Daddy turned as well.
"Are you sure, Honey?"
"You know what we always said! I'm texting my sister, so they'll know..."
"Hurry!"
"Done!"
Mommy was now there, beside them! Karen looked down.
"The puppies!" Mommy dropped down, scooping up Fred and Wilma. Daddy looked at Mommy, put a hand on her shoulder, as her hands were full of puppies, quickly kissed her... ...and led them through the portal.
****
They circled the sacred tree.
Nine humans stood in front of stone markers. Nine humans, holding or wearing signs. Before each of them, behind the markers representing family and friends... nine glowing portals hung in the air. They pulsed, red, green, blue. Thirty seconds. That's all the time they would exist in this world. In those seconds...
****
Chuck stood before the glowing door. They didn't know how much time had passed for those left behind. It did not flow evenly. They knew that. It sped up, slowed down. Days may have passed since the time Mary had come through, or decades. Who could say. He knew who to contact, though. His little sister. If he parents were still alive, she'd pass the message along. Little Jenny...
The doorway before him flashed. From it, a half nude thirty year old woman ran into his arms. Bruises, fresh and old, marked her bare arms and back. A two year old boy was in her arms, crying, a four year old held by the hand crying as well. She said his name, over and over, as he held her trembling pregnant form. Jenny... his little Jenny...
****
Melinda picked up the crumpled ball of paper. Opened the hastily scrawled message that had been thrown through the portal. Read the message from her father, saying he loved her, her and little Carol. Tears flowed from her eyes.
"Wave, Carol! Wave to Grandpa!"
Carol waved.
****
Alicia watched as the portal faded. She imagined her family all there, all looking at her, her bleeding arm, and the brown skinned child with her. What they thought, she did not know.
But she imagined they were happy.
****
Tammy had not spoken to her parents for a year before she had vanished. She was disowned. No daughter of theirs would ever be gay.
At her feet, now, was her Grandmother's jewelry box. The box that sat on the dresser next to her mom's bed. The box that contained everything that was to be passed down to the next oldest daughter.
A paper airplane came flying through after it. The kind her father used to make, when they were bored in church. Tammy caught it, opening the folded message.
"We would come, if we were worthy."
She looked up, shocked. No. NO! She waved, frantically.
"Come! Come! Please!" Let there be time! Let there...!
The portal flashed... and vanished.
Standing in the grass, dressed in flannel, were the two she loved almost more than Nona.
****
Nona stood, holding a sign.
Her parents were dead.
Her family... scattered, distant.
Whoever was her closest relative would see this. Would see the sign, telling who she was, although not why they should care. Her family was here. Everyone she loved was here. There was no one on the other side of...
An eight year old boy and girl ran out of the portal, throwing themselves at her. The girl buried herself into Nona's chest, crying.
"Nona! Nona! You're alive!"
The boy turned, waving back into the doorway!
"Goodbye, Grandma! We're staying with Nona!"
As the portal vanished, she looked down, incredibly confused. The boy looked up, grinning
"Hi, sis!"
****
Anthony looked around as every doorway vanished. Some of his friends were alone, crying. Others were with strangers, new members of his community. He looked at Hannah. She was staring at Mary, at the man hugging her. Her husband. With a sigh, Anthony moved behind his wife, arms wrapping around her waist.
"It will take a little time, but we'll adjust. They'll fit in."
"I know," she said, softly. "But... what do I tell him?"
"Blame something quantum."
****
Wendy lay on the ground where she had collapsed.
Weak... she was weak. She could feel every magical doorway. Feel it, draining her every moment they existed. Her heart was slowing. This... was this it? Was she all magic? Would it all be drained from her, like water from a sieve?
Cheering. She heard cheering. And crying. Voices. Strange voices, familiar voices.
She no longer felt the doorways.
"Hey... are you OK?"
A familiar voice. Sam. Sam sounding... concerned. So, not a familiar voice. Hands touched her. Turned and lifted her head. Opening her eyes, she saw them. Saw Sam and Jack kneeling, looking down at her. Polly stood behind them, with Cathy beside her with that metal walker thing.
Her eyes went to Jack.
The connection was gone.
"You're free," she whispered. Wendy saw his eyes widen, saw joy there. She closed her own eyes.
What was she, without magic?
"OK, everyone, give her room."
The voice as strong. Masculine. Hands touched her gently. Eyes opened.
Anthony stood above her, eyes twinkling.
"You're not leaving us, former witch Wendy."
No... how could she leave, when her love was here?
****
Humans.
Orang.
Fairies.
Squirrels.
Ludzie.
One people, under any and all Gods. Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.
That, is the Magic of Bells.
The End
Edited by SciFi Nut