Lisa

-Lisa-

My father and I never got along. I think he wanted a son and not a daughter. He didn’t come out and say it, but I saw it in his eyes. Mama tried to play peacekeeper. Even she knew it was pointless. Now that I think of it, the only thing was a farce.

I don’t know why I thought about that now.

“You’re back?” Ben asked. I turned my head. He stared at me as he didn’t move. I started to say something but closed my mouth.

“I guess,” I said at last.

“What did you see?” he asked. I lowered my eyes.

“My dad. Baby Doll and Masayuki,” I said.

“Shhh,” Natalia hissed behind us. Ben and I went quiet. The storm outside ate up the silence. What was that I was just seeing? I haven’t thought about dad in a long time. We haven’t spoken to each other in years. Mama left him when I was in middle school. She finally got tired of his bullshit and moved on. I didn’t show it but I was happy for her.

But what was with that little girl?

She looked just like Baby Doll. That can’t be right. I turned my head and looked behind me. There was Baby. She was holding on in the circle. How was that even possible? I tried to put the pieces together and it still didn’t make sense. I thought I had seen this before. Where have I seen that kid? That definitely was Baby. Maybe she was younger. She held her hands over her chest. Even though I couldn’t actually seen him, I could tell that was Masayuki. I had even more questions the more I thought about it.

“How long are we going to sit here?” I asked. Ben shook his head.

“Shhh,” Natalia hissed again. We all went quiet. I lowered my gaze to my lap. Baby said something to me. I could barely hear her at first. I think I was looking up at her. She reached out and patted me on the head. (Yes, you read that right.) I think… I think…

“You can let him go.”

“What?” I lifted my head. I looked over to my right. The only thing I could see was a hand reaching out for my face. For some reason, I wasn’t scared. I drew my mouth closed. Her finger touched my forehead. I heard her speak again.

“You can let him go.”

I didn’t need to ask her who it was. I pressed my lips together. I don’t know how to. I wanted to say that, but I never could bring myself to do it. However, I didn’t need to. I could see a little smile form on her face.

“I will show you how to.” She put her hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes.

“Lisa?” Ben’s voice sounded so distant. Baby and I looked at him. I saw the outline of another hand reaching out for Ben’s chest.

“What are you doing to him?” I asked.

“He’s in pain.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. Ben didn’t have to say anything. He just let it happen. He took in slow, deep breaths.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“It feels so… warm.” Suddenly, he started glowing. I felt myself starting to glow too. I slowly drew my eyes closed. Meanwhile, the circle remembered together behind us.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself looking down a forest. I have never seen so much green before in my life.