Prelude

“Ismelda!!”

            I stopped typing to go to Rose, my darling fey child. At times like this I wish she would call me Mom, but I know that will never happen. I went into her bedroom to see what she was calling me about, had she had a nightmare?

            I sat in the rocker as she was getting out of bed, too excited to sit still. “Ismelda! I had a dream! I was married, older, so much was different!” She paced into the living room, excitement pouring off of her. “What was different Rose?” Curiosity and dread were both overwhelming me. Tomorrow was Rose’s young adult birthday, the day my girl would most likely leave me forever.

            “I lived on a lovely lot, in a different town. I had a husband, a son. I had started on a career as a chef, plans for a garden. My life was moving ahead Ismelda and it was amazing.”

            I held back my tears at the idea that this was it, things were set. The young woman I had watched grow up from being a pink-wrapped baby was going to spread her wings and fly on her own. “How did you feel in this life, this dream Rose?”

            She thought about it for a moment. “Safe. Completely secure. I felt like I was surrounded by magic, like anything was possible.” I was happy for Rose, but still sad that she would be leaving me. Her arms wrapped around me in a hug. ”Tomorrow is my birthday Ismelda. ” I hugged my girl back, and the words left my mouth before I could think. “You don’t have to go, you know that. If you decide you want to stay here I’d be happy with that too.”

            “I know Ismelda. But I’m not scared anymore. Great things are ahead of me. I think.. I want to have my cake early in the morning and go ahead. I love you Ismelda. You have done so much for me, raised me, you and my aunts and uncles taught me all I know. The day you adopted me was the luckiest day of my life.”

            “Where are you planning to go Rose? I know you’ve been looking at the different towns in the Simverse.” Her answer came without hesitation. “Riverview. I like the look of Riverview, it looks nice and peaceful. I’d better go on back to bed now so that I can get an early start.” She kissed me and went back to bed.

            I went back to my computer to write this. Rose, I hope that one day you will read this and think of me. I want you to be successful in all of your dreams.