When Lights Collide Chapter 18

Estelle was the first to fully awaken in the twilight of the early morning.  She could hear birds chirping from somewhere in the distance of her awareness.  

She inhaled fully and deeply as she stretched into this new day.  When she tipped her head back, she bumped against the tree and sat bolt upright, remembering most of the events that brought her to be waking up in her own backyard.

As her eyes flew open, Estelle flipped onto her hands and knees, desperately searching for Cara, she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw her friend had been with her, next to her against the tree.

As she looked around for Daniel, Estelle recalled the blue light that she had seen briefly in her moment of semi-consciousness. 

“Did I dream it?” she wondered to herself as her eyes finally found Daniel, laying opposite the tree, between herself and Cara.

Satisfied that herself and her friends were safe, Estelle took the moment to tune into the God and All Divine energy that had supported their activities of the previous evening and early morning hours, she sat crossed legged, facing the tree as she prayed.

“God and All Divine, Mother Earth, Father Sky, all Divine Beings of love and of light, I thank you, my heart overflows with gratitude for your love, your grace and your support.  Thank you.  To my Guardians, I thank you, your presence in my life and in my heart is a blessing unto me and mine, I Thank You.” 

Estelle completed her prayers and then simply sat with her eyes closed in the silence of the wee morning hours, enjoying the sound of the winds whispering through the trees, the birds singing their songs to one another, inhaling the scent of the grass beneath her, feeling the warmth that the rising sun was sharing with her and soaking in the love that nature had surrounded her with.  

“This is life.” Estelle thought to herself as she sighed and relaxed herself against the Oak tree once more.

The smile upon her face faltered for only a moment, when she heard movement near to her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cara groaned as she felt herself waking from her own slumber.  Never a morning person, nor a happy waking up person, Cara was content to feel put out that sleep was now leaving her.

She tried to stretch, but was met with the firmness of the Oak tree that supported her.

Cara jumped and rolled onto her hands and knees, looking around as though surprised to find herself outside.  Then the memories of what brought her outside in the first place began to race through her mind…

“Daniel!” she shouted into the early morning air.

Estelle giggled, “Good morning to you too.”

Cara exhaled “Oh, thank God, you're here too.” she giggled as she crawled over to Estelle. “But where is Daniel?” Cara asked Estelle.

“He’s on the other side of the tree.” Estelle replied, motioning with her hand the direction of Daniel’s sleeping body.

“Is he ok?” Cara asked, unsure of whether or not she should check on him.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m fine.” Estelle teased Cara, then answered her question, “Yes, honey, he’s fine, just as you are, I scanned you both, you’ll be tired for a bit, but otherwise you’re both good.”

Cara nodded her head “Ok, if you're sure, and yes, I get it, my whole body aches with exhaustion right now.”

Estelle nodded in understanding as Cara moved closer and leaned back against the tree.

Together, they sat in the quiet of the morning, appreciating the sights, sounds and smells of Mother Earth, while they talked about all that had happened during the previous hours.

“Did I dream it, or did I see Daniel glowing?” Cara asked cautiously, uncertain what exactly had happened.

“If that was a dream, then we shared one, because I saw it too.” Estelle replied, “It's not often we get to see a Divine healing exchange like that, we were lucky.”

Cara’s head snapped around and she faced Estelle “lucky?! That was lucky? I thought we were gonners” Cara shook her head and leaned back against the tree, grateful to feel its strength and roughness behind her.

“Yes, lucky.  As in fortunate, witnessing someone’s healing is indeed a gift my dear.” Estelle spoke, but Cara could feel the weight of the look that Estelle also shared with her.

“Ok, but you don't need to look at me like that.” Cara stated grumpily.

“Like what?” Estelle giggled as she rose up from the ground, “Come on, let’s wake the boy, it sounds like you need some coffee.”

Cara nodded her head in agreement, and moved to get up from the ground. “Uumm, are you going to wake him, or should I?” Cara asked as she got to her feet and looked over at Daniel, still asleep on the far side of the tree.

Estelle replied and Cara noted that she sounded far away, “That's a you job honey, I’ll make the coffee.”

“Gee, thanks.” Cara muttered under her breath as she moved toward Daniel “You know I can make coffee too, right?”

Cara knelt down and was just reaching her hand out to shake Daniel’s shoulder when his eyes popped open as he said “Did someone say coffee?!” and he sat up from where he had laid.

Cara was so surprised that she fell backward onto her butt, suddenly agitated with him, “Ugh, don’t tell me you’re a morning person.” Cara stated flatly as she struggled to get herself up from the ground.

Daniel smiled “Nope, not normally, but today, today feels like an especially good day!” as Cara noted that he seemed to bounce himself from the ground to standing upright.

He stood and held his hand out to Cara, offering to help her up, “Need a hand?” he asked.

Cara plopped herself back on the ground, “ugh, you are a morning person.” she muttered as she reached out and accepted his hand up.

Rising from the ground, she noted that his hand felt oddly warm, she looked up at his face and saw him smiling at her. “And what is so funny?” she asked, not trying to hide the snarky from her voice.

Daniel, still holding Cara’s hand, looked all around, as if the question had been for someone other than himself. “Oh, me! Umm, funny? What’s funny about helping someone?” Daniel asked as confusion swept across his face.

Cara rolled her eyes and shook her head, “Not a thing, I suppose.” she replied as she began walking across the backyard toward the house, then she added “Come on, there’s coffee.”

Daniel nodded in response as he took a good look around the yard, taking in the view of the back of the garage that he travelled through when Estelle caught him leaving Cara’s, the tall hemlock trees that acted as a barrier between this yard and the next, the row of lilacs blooming along the back fence, the rose bushes that lined the fence behind him, the expanse of lawn between the garage and the house, the patio area off the back step, that was alive with what looked like a jungle of houseplants blooming and growing everywhere.

As he placed a hand against the Oak tree that had been his bedroom while he slept, Daniel thought to himself “Today, is a good day.” then wondered “where did that come from?” as he shook his head and started walking toward the back door of the house.

“Any day that starts with coffee is a good day indeed.” Daniel thought  and then nodded as if in agreement with himself as he entered the back door and walked toward the kitchen.

Cara was just stepping away from the coffee pot with a fresh poured mug in her hand as Daniel entered the kitchen, “did you save some for me?” he asked jokingly to Cara.

Cara stopped, took a sip from her mug, looked at Daniel and with her hand, motioned to the coffee pot, “see for yourself.” she said as she turned and walked toward the dining area.

Estelle giggled as she rested her mug on the table “don’t mind her honey, she ain’t no morning person.”

Daniel nodded and giggled as he replied “I’m beginning to see that.”

Cara walked through the dining room area and toward the back door, as she stood, looking out at the Oak tree, with her mug of coffee warming her hands, she asked “does anyone else feel….’different’ this morning?”

As she turned away from the back door to look at her friends now seated in the dining room, she couldn’t help but notice the strange looks that they both expressed toward her.

“Different how?” Estelle asked, now looking a little worried at Cara.

“I dunno, just….different.” Cara replied.

Daniel sat looking from one woman to the other, trying to keep up with the conversation replied, “Well, I feel unusually happy and, umm, well, light, this morning.” he shrugged as he offered his response, “But I don’t really know what that means.” he offered.

Both women turned to look at Daniel, he was beginning to feel a little weirded out under their gazes, until Estelle smiled and said “Honey, I bet you do, you unleashed a massive healing last night.” as she giggled.

Daniel sat staring at both women in stunned silence, “what do you mean - I - I what?” he stuttered as he struggled to understand what Estelle had said to him.

His mind’s eye raced with images of the women, standing in the backyard, bright lights, his Grams, him being on his knees, all of the feelings and the tears came rushing back to him as his mind exploded with an information overload, reminding him of what he had forgotten.

“I - you - I - oh…” were the only words that Daniel could speak as his coffee mug slipped from his hand and he slumped forward onto the table with a thump.

To keep reading, CLICK HERE for chapter 19!