Being dead isn't nearly as boring as you might think.

I discovered this on my third day of non-existence, when I finally stopped trying to open doors and learned to simply pass through them instead. The trick, I found, is to forget you were ever solid to begin with. Forget the weight of bones and blood, the constant pull of gravity, the way air once caught in your lungs. Remember instead that you are now made of the same stuff as moonlight and memory.

My name was – is? – Thomas Webb, and I've been dead for approximately eight months, two weeks, and five days. Not that time means much anymore. When you're dead, moments can stretch like taffy or snap past like rubber bands. Sometimes I watch the sun rise and set so quickly it looks like someone's flicking a light switch. Other times, I spend what feels like hours watching a single dewdrop slide down a blade of grass.

I haunt (though I prefer the term "reside in") a small town in New England called Millbrook. Not because I'm bound here by unfinished business or ancient curses – at least, I don't think so. I simply never felt the pull to go elsewhere. Even when I was alive, I rarely left town. Why start traveling now?

Besides, there's more than enough to keep me occupied here. Take Mrs. Henderson at number forty-two, for instance. She's been stealing her neighbor's newspapers for three years, but only on Wednesdays, and only if it's raining. I spent two months following her around before I figured out why: she lines her parakeet's cage with newspaper, and she's convinced that newspaper stolen in the rain brings good luck to pets. I can't argue with her results – that parakeet is seventeen years old and still singing.

Then there's the teenage boy who sits in the park every Tuesday afternoon, writing poetry in a battered notebook. He thinks no one can see him behind the big oak tree, but I float by sometimes and read over his shoulder. His metaphors need work, but his heart's in the right place. Last week he wrote a sonnet comparing his crush's eyes to "pools of Mountain Dew," which was both terrible and oddly touching.

The living can be endlessly entertaining when they don't know they're being watched. It's not creepy if you're dead – it's anthropology.

But I'm not always a passive observer. Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly solid, I can manage small interactions with the physical world. Nothing dramatic like moving furniture or writing messages in blood on the walls (though I'll admit I tried once, out of curiosity – turns out being dead doesn't automatically make you good at horror movie effects).

Instead, I specialize in tiny interventions: nudging dropped keys into view, generating the perfect cool breeze on a sweltering day, ensuring that the last cookie in the box is chocolate chip instead of oatmeal raisin. Small kindnesses, barely noticeable but precisely timed.

My finest work happens at The Dusty Tome, the bookstore where I used to work when I was alive. My former colleague, Sarah, still runs the place. She never knew that I harbored a decade-long crush on her, and now she never will. But I can still help her in my own way.

I've become quite good at guiding customers to exactly the book they need, even if they don't know they need it. A gentle cold spot near the self-help section, a subtle illumination of a particular spine, a barely perceptible whisper that draws their attention to just the right page. Last week, I helped a grieving widower find a cookbook that contained his late wife's secret cookie recipe. He cried right there in the aisle, clutching the book like a life preserver. Sarah gave him a free bookmark and a cup of tea.

The other ghosts (yes, there are others) think I'm too involved with the living. "You need to learn to let go," says Eleanor, who's been dead since 1847 and spends most of her time rearranging flowers in the cemetery. "The living have their world, and we have ours."

But I've never been good at letting go. Even when I was alive, I held onto things too long – old tickets stubs, expired coupons, unrequited feelings. Death hasn't changed that aspect of my personality. If anything, it's given me more time to cultivate my attachments.

Take my cat, for instance. Mr. Whiskers (I didn't name him – he came with that regrettable moniker from the shelter) is still alive and living with my sister. He can see me, as most animals can, but he's remarkably unfazed by my transparent state. Sometimes I lie on the floor next to him while he sleeps, pretending I can feel his warmth. He purrs anyway, the sound vibrating through whatever passes for my soul these days.

The hardest part about being dead isn't the lack of physical sensation or the inability to enjoy coffee (though I do miss that). It's watching the people you love cope with your absence. My sister still sets an extra place at Christmas dinner. My mother keeps "forgetting" to delete my number from her phone. My father pretends he's okay but visits my grave every Sunday with fresh flowers and updates about the Patriots' latest games, as if I might be keeping score in the afterlife.

I want to tell them I'm still here, that death isn't an ending but a change in perspective. I want to tell my sister that I saw her ace her dissertation defense, that I was there in the back of the room, cheering silently as she fielded every question with brilliant precision. I want to tell my mother that yes, I did get her messages, all of them, and that the cardinal that visits her bird feeder every morning is not me, but I appreciate the thought.

But the rules of death are strict about direct communication. The best I can do is send signs they probably don't recognize: a favorite song on the radio at just the right moment, a unexpected whiff of my cologne in an empty room, the feeling of being hugged when they're alone at night.

Sometimes I wonder if this is hell – not fire and brimstone, but the eternal frustration of being able to observe but never truly connect. Other times, usually when I'm watching Sarah shelve books or listening to my father's one-sided conversations at my grave, I think this might be heaven. The ability to witness life without the messy complications of living it, to love without the fear of loss, to exist in the spaces between moments.

I've developed hobbies, as one does when faced with eternal existence. I collect overheard conversations, storing them like precious gems in whatever serves as my memory now. I've become an expert in the secret lives of squirrels (far more dramatic than you'd expect). I've learned to read upside-down books over people's shoulders on park benches, and I've mastered the art of predicting rain by watching the way cats clean their whiskers.

But my favorite pastime is what I call "emotion painting." I've discovered that strong feelings leave traces in the air, visible only to the dead – streaks of color and light that linger like aurora borealis. Love is usually gold or deep rose, anger burns red with black edges, and sadness flows in shades of blue and silver. I spend hours watching these colors swirl and blend, especially in places where emotions run high: the hospital waiting room, the high school during prom, the small chapel where weddings and funerals alike are held.

Today, I'm following a new pattern of colors I've never seen before – a strange mixture of green and purple that sparkles like static electricity. It's emanating from a young woman sitting alone in The Dusty Tome, reading a worn copy of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir." She has dark circles under her eyes and a hospital bracelet on her wrist. The colors around her pulse and swirl with an intensity that draws me closer.

As I hover near her table, I realize she's not actually reading. She's crying silently, tears falling onto the open pages. But there's something else – she keeps looking up, scanning the bookstore as if searching for something. Or someone.

Then she speaks, so softly even I almost miss it: "Thomas? Are you here?"

I freeze (metaphorically speaking – I'm always technically frozen now). It's Lisa Chen, a regular customer from my living days. We used to chat about books, particularly ghost stories. She once told me she could sense spirits, but I had dismissed it as whimsy. Now, as I watch the colors dance around her, I wonder if perhaps she was telling the truth.

"I know you're probably here somewhere," she continues, still speaking barely above a whisper. "Sarah told me you used to help people find the right books. I could use some help now."

I drift closer, fascinated by the way the green and purple lights seem to reach out toward me.

"I'm dying," she says matter-of-factly. "Cancer. Stage four. The doctors say I have maybe three months." She laughs softly. "I'm not afraid of being dead, exactly. I just want to know... is it lonely?"

For the first time since my death, I wish desperately that I could speak. I want to tell her about the beauty of emotion paintings, about the secret lives of cats and squirrels, about the way love looks like golden light and how sadness can be as beautiful as stained glass.

Instead, I do what I do best. I create a gentle breeze that ruffles through the nearby shelves until a small, leather-bound book falls onto her table. It's a collection of Mary Oliver poems, opened to "When Death Comes."

Lisa picks up the book with trembling hands and reads aloud: "When death comes like the hungry bear in autumn... when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse to buy me, and snaps the purse shut... I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering: what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?"

The colors around her shift, the purple fading as the green grows brighter, more peaceful. She smiles, touching the page gently.

"Thank you, Thomas," she whispers.

I stay with her until she leaves, watching the colors trail behind her like a comet's tail. Then I do something I've never done before – I follow her. Not to her home or to the hospital, but to all the places in town that still hold beauty: the park where the teenage poet writes his awful, wonderful verses, the bench where the widower sits feeding pigeons, the small garden behind the library where Sarah takes her lunch breaks.

At each stop, I paint the air with every beautiful thing I've seen since dying, every moment of joy and wonder and connection I've witnessed. I don't know if she can see the colors, but I paint them anyway – gold for love, silver for hope, and a new color I've never used before, one that looks like sunlight through leaves, that means "you are not alone."

Being dead isn't what I expected. It's not an ending or a beginning, but a different way of being. A way of loving the world without being able to hold it. A way of touching lives without leaving fingerprints. A way of existing in the spaces between heartbeats, in the pause between words, in the moment before tears become laughter.

And sometimes, if you're very lucky, it's a way of showing someone else that the cottage of darkness isn't dark at all. It's full of colors only the dead can see, but the living can feel.

I think I'll stay in Millbrook a while longer. After all, there are still books to be found, cats to be comforted, and stories to be witnessed. Besides, I've heard there's a new ghost in town – a teacher who's been rearranging the letters on the high school announcement board to spell out poetry at midnight. I should probably introduce myself.

Being dead, I've learned, is just another way of being alive.

"Why do I have to wear a uniform to school?" Chloe asked her mother.

"So, everyone knows who you are." was the answer her mother gave back to her.

"But I'll look like everyone else." Chloe protested.

"That is true." Her mother conceded, "and you will belong. No one will question you."

"I want to look different. I want to be able to express myself." Chloe continued making her points.

"No, you don't." Her mother corrected, "You want to fit in and be appreciated for who you are. No body cares who you are, they only care that you fit in. You can try to assert yourself over the group and when you do, they will not accept you."

"But how do I get noticed?" Chloe's pleaded.

"By fitting in." Chloe's mother answered.

"That doesn't make any sense. How do I get noticed if I'm like everyone else, if everyone's the same, nobody gets noticed" Chloe shot back.

"Do you notice people?" Chloe's mother asked.

"Yes." Chloe answered.

"What caused you to notice them?" Chloe's mother continued.

"They fit in." Chloe's found herself responding.

"If you want to fit in, do what they are doing." Chloe's mother advised.

"Okay, I'll try." Chloe answered.

"That's my girl." Chloe's mother encouraged.

Chloe was wearing a school uniform. It comprised of a white button-up shirt on top and a dark green skirt below and black sandals. While she was completely unaware of it, the boys very much paid attention to her as she walked from one class to the next mesmerized by the sway of her hips.

The boy's uniform was similar to the girls, they also wore a white shirt but instead of wearing a skirt they wore dark green slacks with black dress shoes. They were also required to wear a monotone-colored tie.

To open the school day, all the students paid tribute to their glorious leader. The state protected and provided for them, and it was their duty to show their gratitude. Through the wisdom of their glorious leader, they lived a life of meaning and service.

A huge picture of the glorious leader hung in the entrance of their school. It was the first thing anyone saw when they entered its illustrious halls, and it reminded everyone who was responsible for their prosperous way of life. Sometimes Chloe would stop and stare at the young, tall, handsome figure who risked everything to make all their lives better. He deserved to be praised, she thought. He had taken the most risk and they all benefitted from that. They should be grateful. Chloe learned about how greed and commercialism almost destroyed civilization in the dark times. Chloe learned how whole populations were discarded as if they were cattle and made to serve the whims of people who used their power for selfish ambitions.

There were basic reading and writing lessons and some lessons to do with math, but the part of the day Chloe loved most of all was learning how to cook. The glorious leader had commented on many occasions that the people needed to be able to take care of themselves and not being able to cook was a major problem in the dark times. So, he mandated that every person must be able to cook. Chloe didn't want to let the glorious leader down by not being able to cook.

Chloe also felt the desire to be an individual. She didn't exactly hate the uniforms, but she wanted to choose what she wore. She was getting older, and she wanted to show the world that she wasn't like everyone else. However, the pressure to maintain appearance were too strong for her to outright disobey, so she buried her frustration for the good of society. This she did daily.

One day her best friend Kristen, noticed she wasn't her usual self. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked.

"I don't know" Chloe answered.

"I was feeling kind of down and I met someone who helped me. I think they can help you too. I'm going to be seeing them today, why don't you come with me?" Kristen offered.

"I don't know. You know how my mom doesn't like me being with people she doesn't know." Chloe answered.

"Yeah, I know." Kristen said sympathetically, "But I think she really can help."

Chloe didn't answer so Kristen tried genteelly persuading her, "I promise I will be with you the whole time."

"You promise." Chloe asked for assurance.

"I promise. You won't regret it." Kristen said sweetly.

"Okay" Chloe finally relented.

Chloe and Kristen went to a part of town that Chloe had never been to before. She was starting to feel a bit apprehensive about it. They came to the door of what looked like a long-abandoned building in need of a lot of repairs. Kristen knocked on the door. After a few moments the door opened, and they went inside. Once inside they heard music. Chloe had never heard anything like it before. It almost sounded like noise, but it had rhythm and a beat. Chloe and Kristen came to a large room where a lot of other kids her age was moving their bodies to this strange music. A girl noticed Kristen and greeted both of them.

"So, is this the girl you were telling me about?" The strange girl asked.

"Yeah, I think she's ready to join the underground." Kristen answered.

Chloe looks at the strange girl. She didn't wear a uniform. She wore clothes that Chloe hadn't seen before, and she was the only one who was wearing them. She looked around and noticed that all the kids were wearing something different, and they all stood out to her.

"Do you want to take off that uniform?" The strange girl asked. Chloe just nodded,

"Then follow me."

The strange girl led Chloe into a changing room. There were all kind of different clothes on hangers. "Try on whatever you like." The girl said, "hang up your uniform and when you are ready to leave, just change back."

Chloe started trying on clothes. She wanted to try on everything. She wanted to see how everything looked on her. It took her about an hour to decide but she finally did it. When she walked out on the floor where everyone was dancing, she felt like an individual rather than part of the collective.

"What do I do now?" She asked once she got to the floor.

"Just feel the music and move your body." The strange girl told her.

"But I don't know how to do that." Chloe protested.

"You'll get the hang of it." The strange girl answered, "Just try and relax." Kristen had also changed out of her school uniform, and she just started moving her body. Chloe tried mimicking her. She felt really self-conscious. The strange girl smiled; it was always the same, but she knew it wouldn't take long. Chloe noticed there were also boys there, but she didn't notice at first. The reason why was because all the strange clothes blended together, and you really had to look at someone to tell who they were. She saw kids there from her school and she saw kids from other schools.

"What is this place?" Chloe finally got the nerve to ask.

"It's a place to go when you want to just be yourself." The strange girl answered.

"Don't you worry about being caught?" Chloe followed up.

"There are worse things than being caught." The strange girl replied.

Someone came up and handed Chloe a drink.

"What's this?" Chloe asked.

"Just something to help you loosen up." The strange girl answered.

"Is it alcohol?" Chloe followed up. Alcohol was not permitted to minors and she had been well indoctrinated to stay away from it.

"Not exactly." The strange girl continued, "Alcohol is how the masses escaped in the past. This is how we do it in the future."

Chloe took a sip. It had a sweet fruity taste to it that she had to admit was good. She started feeling good and after about 10 minutes she started loosening up and was able to finally feel the music. It was the most amazing feeling she had ever had.

This went on for another good hour when the festivities were interrupted by a blast coming from somewhere outside. Moments after the blast, several adults, wearing the uniform of the official security forces, flooded into the warehouse and started capturing the kids there. No one resisted, they all knew better. Chloe was taken to a detention center and remained there for what seemed like hours. Finally, a young woman that Chloe had never met before took her out of detention. Chloe was taken to a room where her mother was there waiting for her. The three of them sat down.

"Chloe," The young woman began, "Since this is your first offense, we are releasing you to your mother. We know how much you want to follow our glorious leader, but we also know that sometimes young people get confused by their feelings. To help you, we have paired you up with another student who can help you work through your concerns. This person will help you sort out your feelings and provide an example of how you are to behave. You may go now."

Chloe and her mother left the detention center. For a long time neither of them spoke. Finally, Chloe had to break the silence. "I'm sorry mother for putting you through this shame." Chloe finally said.

"I know." Her mother answered, "Our glorious leader has given you mercy and you must show your gratitude by trying to mimic the mentor they are providing for you."

"I will try my best." Chloe confirmed. Chloe knew that she should have been punished more severely for her discretion. She was grateful that their glorious leader understood that sometimes people make mistakes.

Chloe entered the school building the next morning. She stopped in front of the portrait of the glorious leader. His confident, strong appearance gave Chloe courage. She reported to the front office and waited for her mentor. A girl was introduced to her. She looked familiar but she couldn't quite remember where she had seen her. She was dressed in the same school uniform that Chloe was wearing.

"Chloe" the administrator started, "This is Stephanie. She will be your mentor from now on. If you follow her example, you will make us all proud of you."

"Hi Chloe," Stephanie started, "I don't want you to feel bad about yourself. I was once caught like you were. I felt horrible and someone showed me the way just like I'm going to show you. Don't worry, you're in good hands with me." Stephanie spoke sweetly and smiled.

Chloe didn't answer. She was trying to remember where she saw this girl before. As they were walking to Chloe's first class, it finally hit her. This was the strange girl from the old warehouse. Chloe didn't know what to think.

Elisa sat in her room. She was lost in a story about a vampire who fell in love with a werewolf. The story wasn't deep, but it was full of imagery and emotion. The day had passed by fast enough and while she loved to read, she eventually needed a break.

She took that break when she heard a knock on her bedroom door. "Elisa, are you alright?" a voice came from beyond her room. She recognized the voice as her mothers. Her mother was always worried that she spent too much time in worlds of fantasy and not enough time in the one that mattered.

"Yeah," Elisa shot back through the door.

"It's time for dinner." came the reply and with that, Elisa got up and left her fantasy world behind. Well, at least for the time being. Elisa's mom was a decent cook and her father wasn't easy to please. Elisa imagined that the beef stew was really boar meet that she cooked over a fire after hunting in an enchanted forest. She had that faraway look in her eye that disturb her parents very much but didn't really know what to do about.

"So how was your day at school?" Elisa's father asked, hoping to spark a conversation with his withdrawn daughter.

"It was ok." Elisa replied. Strike one.

"Did you make any new friends?" Her mother asked.

"I'm not in preschool, mother." Came the reply. Strike two.

They both paused a moment. One more strike and they were out. The problem was they didn't know how to relate to their daughter. She had a vivid imagination. One they were frightened of.

Elisa finished her dinner and went back to her room. Back to a world of passion and intrigue. Soon she was lost in the story again. She wasn't sure just how long it had been but after some time she heard a noise. A noise that wasn't supposed to be there and it brought her out of her trance. She felt like she was no longer alone and the hair on her arms stood straight up. She froze in place and if movement would cause great harm to come to her. She slowly looked around the room and there was nothing there that wasn't supposed to be. While in the grip of this feeling, there is a knock on the door.

"Can I come in?" Her father asked.

"Sure" Elisa answers, still petrified. Her father opens the door and walks in.

"Are you okay? You look scared." Her father observes.

"It's a scary part of the book." Elisa offers as an explanation. Her father accepts this reason and continues.

"Your mom and I are really worried about you. You don't have any friends and you seem to get lost in these stories as if they are real." Her father explains.

"I know you are worried." Elisa responds, "But people make fun of me at school and I'm not really good at anything. This is the only thing that makes life bearable."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Her father sympathizes, "but we have to do something. Maybe a therapist will help this time."

"You know what happened the last time." Elisa warns.

"I know" Her father says, "Just think about it."

"Okay" Elisa answers. Elisa's father feels helpless, but he leaves his daughter. As the door closes, a tall young boy comes out of the shadows. He is wearing jeans and a leather jacket. He is holding a fireball in his hand like it was nothing.

"I thought he would never leave" the young boy says with an evil grin on his face, "Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?" Elisa's asks innocently.

"Ready to start living!" the young boy responds.

“I’ve won!” The leader declares, “You can’t stop me.”

“The dream isn’t over yet.” Gina announces.

As the woman is bound in chains and cast down. The army that swept over the Earth is shattered into a million individual pieces. Just when the army is poised for its final victory, the remaining kingdoms of the Earth band together and field a large army of its own. These two armies fight and when the dust clears, the great army that swept over the world is gone and there is no one left to replace it.

The leader is captured and before he can be executed, he uses his magic to escape. The woman who opposed him, breaks free of her chains.

They all wake up from their dream.

“Now that you know the end of the dream, let me show you your final fate.” Gina announces. She grabs the hand of the young man and the great one and disappears, leaving the leader alone to contemplate his fate.

When they reappear, they are in a cave far away. The former leader is there. Having lived out the dream, he knew they would come. He just didn’t know when.

“Look at yourself.” Gina says to the young man, “Is this the fate you want?” The young man looks at himself, old and broken. He turns away in disgust.

“No.” he says quietly.

“Are you ready to give up your magic?” Gina asks.

“I am” the young man declares, “Will this hurt?”

“It will not” Gina assures. Gina waves her hands and says something that sounds like nonsense. The spark leaves the young man. Gina grabs both their hands and they disappear. When they reappear, they are back to where they started from in the past.

“You can be happy now with people who care about you.” Gina says, “I have one final thing for you.” Gina causes the young man to forget everything he had seen and heard about the possible future.

“Great one is it an honor to see you. “The young man says to the great one, “Miss” he says to Gina. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“No, I was just passing by you may go about your business.” The great one said.

“Thank you” The young man says as he goes on his way.

“I owe you a great debt.” The great one says to Gina, “You have kept me from making a terrible mistake. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No. Just be more careful.” Gina replies and with that she disappears and the great one never sees her again.

When Gina appears again, it is in her own time. She is in a small chamber and an old man is sitting there. He notices that she had the spark.

“I didn’t know you were a magician.” The old man says, “You certainly were not one when I saw you earlier today.”

“True” Gina answers, “I was given the ability to perform magic.”

“And who would give that ability to you.” The old man asks.

“You did.” Gina declares.

“I did, and why would I do something stupid like that.” The old man asks, amused.

“Because you are the wisest, smartest person I know.” Gina answers, “Thank you for believing in me.”

“You’re welcome, I think. What are you going to do, we can’t have two princesses running around.” The old man asks.

“You know I’m not the princess anymore. I think I’m going to travel, see the world.” Gina replies.

“Well, you be careful then.” The old man warns.

“I will” Gina assures. She then disappears again. When she appears, she is in another small chamber. There is no one there so she waits. She waits for what seems like a long time until suddenly Carla walks in. When she sees Gina, she is frightened and can’t speak.

“I’ve been waiting for you.” Gina declares.

“You have?” Carla can barely get out.

“Of course, I’m going to travel the world and I can’t do that without my best friend.” Gina says. Carla isn’t sure what is going on. The princess is never nice, and she is pretty sure the princess doesn’t know she exists. Gina takes both her hands in her own. “I will always have your back.” Gina assures. Carla is really confused. One moment they are in her room, the next moment they are somewhere else.

The somewhere else they are, is outside Mark’s quarters. Gina puts one finger over her mouth and tries to calm Carla down. Within a few minutes, Mark comes out of his quarters.

“Princess, what are you doing here?” Mark asks.

“I am going on a trip, and I need your protection.” Gina declares.

“Does the King know? Why don’t you have a real knight escort you?” Mark asks.

“Are you questioning me!?” Gina says, “You will change into some normal clothes right away and come with me.” This was highly unusual. Mark had bad feelings about this, but he couldn’t refuse the princess. If she wanted to make his life miserable, she could easily do it.

“Yes, princess.” Mark replied. Mark went and changed as quickly as he could.

“That’s better, do you know Carla?” Gina asked. When Mark saw Carla, he felt something he had never felt before.

“My name isn’t…” Carla was about to say but Gina stopped her from finishing her sentence.

“Your name is what I say it is.” Gina rebuked sternly, “We have one more stop before we leave.” Gina took them both by the hand and disappeared again. This time she reappeared in front of Toby’s modest shack.

“You two wait here.” Gina ordered. Gina entered the small shack. Toby had gone to sleep because it was late, but Gina woke him up.

“Princess, what are you doing here?” Toby asked. Toby couldn’t believe the princess was in his small shack. It was as if he were still dreaming. Toby got to his feet. When he did, Gina wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss on the lips. It was at this moment that Toby was sure he was dreaming. The princess didn’t even know he was alive, yet there she was.

“Are you ready?” Gina asked when she was done kissing Toby.

“Ready for what?” Toby asked.

“Ready to run away with me.” Gina continued. Toby didn’t know what to say. He had dreamed of this moment his entire life and it was happening.

“Yes” He affirmed.

“Then come with me” Gina ordered. Toby and Gina went outside where Mark and Carla were waiting for them. Gina had them all hold hands. Once they did, they all disappeared. When they reappeared, they were all in the future.

“Where are we?” Carla asked. She looked around and nothing looked familiar. They were on the side of a road and a car passed. “What was that?”

“We are in the future.” Gina declares, “A future where we can all be our best selves.”

“What will we do here?” Mark asked.

“Anything we want!” Gina replied, “I just have one final thing to do.” Gina let go of the spark. She was no longer a great sorcerous, now she was just herself, with the people she cared about.

THE END

“Listen to me, you will never be happy.” Gina tells the young man, “The great one doesn’t know everything.”

“I don’t know what to think.” The young man answers.

Gina thinks for a moment. Then she grabs the hand of the great one and they both disappear. They reappear in a small dimly lit hut. An older great one is trying to light a fire. Back when he had his magic, he could use that to light the fire but that was a long time ago. The great one looks at the older version of himself, who is still unaware that he has guests.

“Go on” Gina coaxes the young version, “He cold. You can help him.”

“Why can’t he help himself.” The younger great one asks.

“He lost the ability to use magic a long time ago.” Gina says, “Have some compassion.”

The younger great one looks at his older self-struggle. He waits for several more minutes. The older version is so wrapped up in trying to start a fire that he is completely oblivious to the fact he is not alone. The younger great one makes a gesture with his hands and the fire lights.

This event startles the older version. He turns around and is faced with himself and a woman he doesn’t recognize.

“Who are you?” The older version asks.

“I’m you” The younger version declares.

“You can perform magic?” The older version asks.

“Yes.” The younger version replies.

“How is this possible?” The older version continues.

“How did you lose your magic?” The younger version asks.

“My apprentice and I didn’t see eye to eye, and he took my magic from me.” The older version answers.

“How did he do that?” The younger version inquires.

“I don’t know but you must not train him.” The older version warns.

“Why?” The younger version asks.

“Because he starts a war that will consume the entire world.” The older man answers.

“This woman wants to take your apprentices magic away.” The younger man offers.

“Let her do it!” The older man says, “Don’t oppose her. She is the one from the dream that stops the war.” The old man sits down in a chair near the fire to warm himself. Gina grabs the younger man’s hands and they disappear again.

They appear on the plain where Mark had his battle. The field is strewn with dead bodies. The great one is repulsed by the sight.

“This is where a great battle took place. Your apprentice is responsible for all these lives lost.” Gina explains.

“I failed.” The great one said, “This apprentice that I take on, I fail him.”

“He is happy the way he is now, he is part of a community that cares about him. You take him away from all that. If you allow me to take his ability to use magic away. This war never happens, and he lives a happy life.” Gina explains.

“I want to see him, the way he is now.” The great one requests. Gina takes his hand, and they disappear again. They reappear in a chamber in her own castle. The leader, who used to be the great one’s apprentice, the sleeping.

“Time to wake up” the great one says, as he finishes speaking, the leader awakens. He sees his old master and the girl.

“What kind of trick is this?” The leader asks Gina.

“I wanted your old master to see what has become of you.” Gina answers.

“You are the woman from my dreams. The one who opposes me.” The leader acknowledges, “Why bring him here?”

“Because he has not decided to train you yet.” Gina answers, “Before he does, I wanted him to see what happens to you.” Gina grabs the hand of the leader and the great one’s hand and they all disappear. They reappear in front of the young man.

“This is what you become if you don’t let me take away your magic.” Gina declares.

“What?!” the leader says, “You can’t take away my magic, I won’t let you.”

“Go ahead,” Gina tells the young man,” Ask him what he’s done.”

“What is she talking about?” The young man asks the leader.

“The dreams” The leader says,” The dreams where you see an army sweeping over the world, that is your army. You hear the people of the world calling out for help and you use this army to free them. When the whole world is under our control. There will be peace, and everyone will be happier. This woman is the one who you see in the dream who takes it all away.”

“I don’t know what happens because I always wake up before the dream ends.” The young man claims.

“When you should all see the end of the dream.” Gina declares. She touches all three of them and they all fall asleep.

They all had a dream.

They all saw the wonders of the kingdoms of the world. As these kingdom’s glory passed before them, their glory was swallowed up by a large army that swept over the earth. The army destroyed everything in its path. A madman led this army. The young man saw for the first time, that the madman was himself. As the army was approaching victory, a woman appeared to oppose him. A great sorceress. The two engaged in battle. As the dust settled, the woman who opposed him was bound in chains and cast down.

Gina was waiting at the edge of the field for the workers to return from a hard day’s work. As people pass her by, she sees him. He looks so young. He has his whole life in front of him. She steps in front of him.

“Hi” she says warmly.

“Hi” he replies, “I’ve never seen you around here.” His voice is warm and light and genuine.

“I just got here.” She answers, “I’ve been traveling.”

“Alone?” He inquires, “You must be very brave.”

“I can take care of myself.” She responds.

“I can see that.” He agrees, looking her over.

“You look happy.” Gina notes.

“I am. I have everything I want, friends, family, and an honest day’s work.” He answers, smiling.

“But there is one thing, isn’t there?” She asks.

“What do you mean?” He answers.

“There’s one thing that troubles you.” Gina clarifies.

“How would you know that?” He asks.

“I’m a seer.” Gina explains, “I can see into your soul.”

“Really?” the man asks intrigued, “and what is my trouble.”

“You have a terrible nightmare. You see the whole world consumed by war.” Gina answers, “and it frightens you. Your scared that your life will be ruined.”

“That’s right.” The man confirms. His face turns white.

“Would you like me to take the nightmares away?” Gina offers.

“You can do that?” He asks.

“I can.” Gina insists, “You will sleep peacefully from this night forward.”

“Will it hurt?” The man asks.

“You won’t feel a thing.” Gina promises, “I want to help you.” Before the young man answers, the great one approaches. He senses the spark in Gina. Gina senses the spark in him as well.

“Am I interrupting something?” The great one asks on approach.

“This beautiful woman says she can take away my nightmares.” The young man explains.

“Great One?” Gina asks confused.

“This is the great one.” The young man explains, “He is the greatest wizard in existence. His wisdom directs our kingdom. We are truly lucky to have someone like him to help us.”

“I am honored to meet you.” Gina says to the great one, “I am a great sorceress, this young man has been having nightmares and I have offered to take them away.”

“Great, you say?” The great one responds, “Where do you come from?”

“I come from a Kingdom far away.” Gina explains, “I have been traveling a long time.”

“This young man sees the future. He has the spark and it’s showing him things to come.” The great one explains, “I was just going to offer to train him.”

“What?” the young man asks, “Train me for what.”

“Train you in how to use magic.” The great one explains, “I need an apprentice. I’m not going to get here forever, and I want you to take my place when the time comes.”

“You must not train him.” Gina insists, “The spark, as you call it, will only bring him pain and sorrow. He must get rid of it.”

“I am offering him a chance at a better life.” The great one argues, “One where he will make a difference for everyone. He will be respected.”

“He’s happy now,” Gina counters, “The responsibility that comes with your offer is too much.”

“Don’t I get a say in this?” The young man interrupts. “What do you mean, a better life?”

“Not everyone can practice magic, only those who have the spark. You will come to live with me. I will train you to use magic. You will use for magic to benefit the kingdom, and everyone will respect you.” The great one explains.

“He’s not telling you everything,” Gina counters, “You will have to leave all the people that you care about behind. You will have to dedicate your life to opposing the nightmares you dream of every night. They won’t go away; they will get worse.”

“You don’t know that.” The great one pushes back, “He will see the vision more clearly and we can take action to stop this threat that he sees.”

“No, he needs to give up the ‘spark’ and be rid of his nightmares.” Gina insists.

“I’m right here” the young man interrupts again, “I can make up my own mind.”

“What the great one is saying about your nightmares is true. You are seeing the future, but what you are not seeing is how this threat starts.” Gina says.

“What does it matter how it starts, what matters is that the threat is dealt with.” The great one says.

“What if I were to tell you that he is the one who starts it.” Gina says to the great one,

“He is the one whose army spreads across the world.”

“How could you possibly know that I can’t even see it.” The great one says, “besides, I would never let it happen.”

“You have no choice.” Gina insists, “If you train him, he will take your place by force.”

“That’s crazy” the young man chimes in, “I would never do that.”

“Yes, you will.” Gina counters, “unless you let me take your ability to use magic away from you.”

“No one can take away another person’s spark. “The great one protests, “I can’t even do that.”

“He will be able to do it.” Gina says, “and no one will be able to stop him.”

“What you’re saying is that I’m the one who terrorizes the world.” The young man asks.

“Yes” Gina answers, “unless the spark is taken away from you, you will leave everything that you’ve known, and you will never be happy again, but I can fix that.”

“I don’t know, I trust the great one, what do you think?” the young man asks the great one.

“You can't trust a sorcerous, for all we know, she’s the one who unleashes this great army.” The great one answers.

Mark found himself on his knees on the floor of Toby’s small house. Toby was there and Gina was there as well. Mark stood at his feet.

“Thank you” Mark said, “I thought I was dead for sure.”

“You’re welcome” Gina replied.

“How did you know and how did you get there.” Mark asked.

“It’s magic.” Gina explained, “Ever since the old man died, I’ve been able to make things happen.”

“The army isn’t invincible like we were led to believe.” Mark begins, “We met a large army on a great plain. A lot of people died and when the dust settled, neither side won. We withdrew but the enemy overpowered us in the middle of the night. I was captured and almost put to death. The war can’t be fought without soldiers to replace the ones who have died.”

“Life is better now” Toby admitted, “Everyone is working toward the common good and everyone is benefiting.”

“A lot of men have died.” Mark counters.

“They would have died anyway.” Toby shoots back, “War is the way it’s always been.”

“We have seen the future, and we know one thing. This peace can’t be maintained with our current technology.” Mark argues, “All empires fall, and this one will too.”

“Everyone’s happier.” Gina adds.

“Not everyone.” a new voice adds. No one noticed Carla had entered Toby’s house, “The leader, the guy who started this war. He’s not happy.”

“But he had brought freedom to so many people.” Toby answers.

“I’ll admit that people are happier, but he’s done it at the expense of his own happiness.” Carla adds,

“What are you doing here?” Gina asks Carla.

“The leader is looking for you. He wants to send you away to another part of the empire so you can live a normal life.” Carla explains.

“Do you think he’s telling the truth?” Toby asks.

“I don’t know.” Carla admits.

“Maybe I should meet this leader.” Gina proposes.

“Don’t do it. He’s a wizard, better than the old man was.” Carla warns.

“I know” Gina replies, “Bring the leader to the bakery and meet me in the back tomorrow.” Gina tells Carla.

That night Gina has a dream.

She sees a young man working in the fields. He works hard but despite that, he looks happy. When the working day is over, he congregates with his peers. They all work together, play together, and look out for each other. When the young man goes home, he has a dream that torments him. He doesn’t know how to use magic yet.

Then the scene shifts. He sees someone offer the young man an opportunity to practice magic. Gina sees the young man start to change. He becomes obsessed with his dream.

Gina wakes up.

The next day, Carla speaks with the leader. He tells him that he has found her. She works in the bakery, and she is the one responsible for making the bread. The leader will finally have the chance to remove the only obstacle in his way. Victory will be within reach.

He enters the bakery. The crowd is there. He moves past them and goes in the back. He sees Gina. He feels the spark inside of her. He tries to remove it but fails. He is not sure why he can’t remove it, but he tries again and again he fails.

“I must admit, everyone is happier since you took over.” Gina tells the leader.

“Who are you? Why can’t I take your spark.” The leader asks.

“It is not yours to take.” Gina replies without looking at the leader, “I’ve seen you before. I’ve seen the dreams that torment you. You used to be happy.”

“That was a long time ago.” The leader responds, “I must unite the world.”

“To what end?” Gina asks, “Empires rise and fall. No matter how much you want it to last, it won’t.”

“It will.” The leader insists, “When everyone is better off, they will make it last.”

“Nothing lasts.” Gina insists, “You’ve sacrificed your happiness for nothing. You left all those people who cared about you for nothing.”

“It wasn’t for nothing. It was for the greater good.” The leader explains.

“The cost was too high.” Gina states.

“Come with me.” The leader orders. Gina complies, not because she must, but because she knows there is nothing the leader can do to her. Gina is taken to the dungeon. She has never been there before. Her hands and feet are bound in chains.

“You will stay here until I decide what to do with you.” The leader announces. Gina does not respond. The leader leaves her by herself. It takes some time, but eventually Gina falls asleep.

Gina has another dream.

“Who are you looking for?” Carla asked the leader.

“I felt something inside the bakery and then it was gone.” The leader answered.

“What he you feel?” Carla followed up.

“Another person who could use magic.” The leader explained, “When you are as powerful as I am, you can sense when someone else in the area can also use magic. If there is someone else here that can use magic, that might be a problem.”

“People are happier now. Life is better. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to ruin that.” Carla thinks out loud.

“Some people just aren’t happy, no matter what life is like.” The leader follows up.

“Are you happy?” Carla asks the leader.

“No. No one who leads is happy.” The leader explains.

“Why not?” Carla continues.

“Because you always have to keep an eye over your shoulder.” The leader answers.

“Maybe this person who can use magic just wants to be left alone.” Carla suggests.

“That might be true, but I have to know for sure.” The leader says.

Carla felt sorry for the leader. He had all this power, but he wasn’t happy. He could do anything he wanted and yet, he is fighting this war, trying to save everyone. Carla and the leader continue their tour. Carla is impressed with how different everything is. Everyone does seem to be happier.

“I want to help,” Carla offers, “What can I do?”

“I’ll tell you what, you can lead the staff that maintains the castle. If you prove you can handle that, I’ll give you something more challenging.” The leader offers.

Carla wasn’t sure what to say. She knew the entire staff that maintains the castle because she was part of that staff. The others are likely to resent her getting a promotion over them. Furthermore, the person who oversees the staff now probably isn’t going to like being replaced.

“What is the person that does that job now going to do?” Carla asks.

“We’ll find something for them to do. You don’t have to worry about that.” The leader assured.

When Carla returned to the Castle. The person in charge of the staff gathered everyone together. He explained that he had just been given a promotion that was effective immediately and introduced Carla as his replacement. Carla then got up to address the staff, but she wasn’t sure what to say.

“Thank you. I am honored to accept this responsibility. I know that you will do continue to do an amazing job. Back to work everyone.” Carla announced.

“To the point, I like that.” The leader approved, “I am aware that these people are going to try and stab you in the back. Handle it the right way, and you will have a bright future.”

“How do you know?” Carla asked.

“Because I know people.” The leader answered. Carla knew the leader was right. She was one of them and not all of them liked her. She needed to weed those people out fast.

“I won’t let you down.” Carla promised.

“I know” the leader agreed. After saying that, the leader left Carla to take care of other matters. Carla was left alone with her thoughts. Maybe she was wrong? Maybe she could fulfill her ambitions here in the past. The leader of the entire empire noticed her. She is being given a chance to show everyone what she can do.

Once Carla assumed control, little things started to happen just as the leader predicted. By themselves they were no big deal but accumulated, they added up. It didn’t help that the staff was uncooperative in identifying the ones responsible. It took Carla weeks, but she finally figured out who the culprit was. Once she did, she assembled the staff.

Once the staff was assembled, she called out the offending staff member and informed her that she was being transferred. Once the offending staff member was gone, Carla started giving little rewards in recognition for well-done jobs. Over time the staff started to like Carla being in charge.

One day Carla got a visit from the second in command.

“We have not been able to locate the princess yet.” The man informed Carla, “We are certain she is still here somewhere and that she has disguised herself. She may even have had help. Once we capture her, we are going to send her to the other side of the empire where no one knows who she is. We will give her something to do, and she will be able to lead a normal life there. We think you can help us find her. You have done an outstanding job. Find the princess and your future will be secure.”

“How do you know I can find her?” Carla asked.

“Because we now know that she was the other girl that was with you when we found you the night, we liberated the people here. The leader would like to speak with her.” The man explained.

Carla wasn’t sure the man was telling the truth about what would be done when Gina was found. However, she couldn’t deny that they are being treated more than fairly and that everyone was generally happier now that these people had come. Maybe Gina would be better off on the other side of the empire, leading a normal life.

“Okay, I will do what I can to help find the princess.” Carla promised.

“You haven’t done what I told you to do.” The new great one announced.

“We need more time.” One of the advisors answered.

“You don’t have any more time.” The great one informed the council causing fear to wash over them.

“A lot of changes must be made. We can’t just wave our hands and make it happen.” Another advisor protested.

“You haven’t made any changes, and you don’t intend to.” The great one answered,

“Now you will receive your punishment.” The great one started waving his hands around and uttering words that sounded like nonsense. When he was finished, the King and all his advisors turned into rats.

“Now the outside fits what is on the inside.” The great one said, although now none of them could understand him because they were all rats. Now he needed to address the people. The Kingdom was no longer a kingdom but an empire. He would need to turn it into a well-oiled machine, swift and efficient. To do that he would need to create a machine where everyone knew what was expected of them.

News of the King’s demise spread quickly and soon everyone was gathered. The great one stood up to address the crowd.

“For what seems like forever, the masses have always worked so that the few could lead fantastic lives. The life of abundance and luxury. A man should toil, first for himself, and then for the common good. I gave the King a chance to put this idea into practice, but he refused. He didn’t want to give up his power. So, I turned him and all his advisors into rats.” The great one paused to let this information soak in.

“Now we must forge a new future. One where everyone benefits, not just a few. Where everyone gets a chance to use their talents, first to benefit themselves, then to benefit others. Among you there are natural leaders, people who are respected by the community and able to organize people to accomplish great things. We need you to step up and use those talents. I have written out the rules that we will now live by as well as the tasks that need to be done. Life will be better, both for you and your children. Together, we will make it better.”

The people stood in silence. They didn’t know what to think about this new thing the great one is going to force on them. All their lives, all they’ve known is toil. They felt comfort in knowing that there was someone in charge directing society. Now that was all gone. What would become of them without a King? They all knew they couldn’t oppose the great one. If he thought this new thing was what should be done. They would all have to do it whether they wanted to or not.

The great one started identifying these natural leaders and over the next few years, he put them into place. At first, no one noticed that changes were being made. However, everyone noticed when food production increased. Everyone started to wonder where all the homeless people disappeared to. Crime became almost nonexistent. The people noticed that their lives were getting better and there was no King to thank for it, they had themselves to thank.

It took some time, but the great one had everything in place. It was time to start the war. Everyone was gathered for the announcement.

“We have enjoyed prosperity like no other people have enjoyed before us. When people are left to their own devices, they are capable of amazing things. You have all proven this to be true. There are other people in other places that are not as fortunate as you are. They suffer under the yoke of oppression by those who do not care if they live or die. We can change that. We have assembled a great army and now we will use that army to free the people of the world, so they can enjoy the life that you all now enjoy.”

The people listened. They could not deny life was better, but they didn’t see any reason why they should be responsible for bringing this life to others. They could not go against the wishes of the great one. They would have to force the rest of the world to be like them, whether it wanted to or not.

The great one knew that the people did not want war, but when the whole world is under the same system and everyone is happy, war will no longer be required. The great one knew that a woman would rise to oppose him. He had seen it in his dreams. He still never saw how the dreams ended but now instead of rooting for her victory, he rooted for her defeat. It was his destiny to sweep across the planet. It was his destiny to rule the world and no woman was going to get in his way.

While Toby worked in the fields, Gina worked in the bakery. As she used her new powers to avoid getting fired, she started to attract attention because of its results. The quality of the bread that was made at the bakery became wildly popular. The woman who employed her became very happy.

Every morning, the people who came in who wanted to buy bread increased dramatically. Gina was learning to control her new powers and soon she could do just about anything she wanted. She felt empowered.

As the princess, everyone was afraid of her and only pretended to like her. As the baker’s assistant, everyone loved her because of the bread that she made. As the days passed, Gina began to feel better about her situation. She knew she was still in danger should anyone expose her identity to their new rulers, but she can’t say she was sorry the whole thing happened. Life did seem better now, not only for her but for everyone else as well.

Toby got used to the strangers watching him work. He wasn’t sure why they were there. They never said anything. They never got in the way. They just watched. After watching for what seemed like many days. The workers were all called into a meeting. At the meeting they were informed that the men who has been watching them were there to help them grow more food, faster. They were part of a vast empire now and they had a responsibility, not only to themselves but to the rest of humanity to be as efficient as possible. So, they started training the workers in new techniques. They built new equipment to aid in the process. Some of the things they did reminded Toby of the things they did in the future. Toby was amazed. The results were almost immediate. Toby couldn’t deny that life was better.

Toby could see Gina’s confidence grow with each new day. He could also tell she was happier. Gina felt comfortable with Toby now and he wondered if she could be persuaded to make the arrangement permanent. He didn’t want to blow his shot though, so he decided not to force anything. It would be better for it to develop naturally over time. At least that’s what he told himself.

Toby was concerned about Gina’s growing popularity. He could see that she was happier now, but he knew that the new powers that be were still looking for the princess and that when they found her, it would not be good. He felt like it was his duty to look out for her.

One day Gina felt something she had never felt before. She was at the bakery, and she sensed someone close. Someone who had the same powers that she had. She peeked out from the back room and looked through the crowd. There were a lot of people there and it was hard for her to tell who it was. Then she saw Carla. She had not seen Carla since the night they took her to the castle. Then she saw who was next to Carla. It was a man she had never seen before, but she knew he was the one. He was the one who had power and it wasn’t just a little power, it was a lot of power. She wished to be hidden.

When the leader walked into the bakery. He felt something he had not felt in some time. Someone in the bakery had the spark. He looked around but he couldn’t tell who it was. He thought that was a bit odd because he had sharpened his senses and could detect even the weakest spark in a person who was close by. A magician was trying to hide from him. No one hides for long. Many have tried and they all ultimately fail. As he had this thought, the thing he felt vanished. He looked to see if anyone had left the bakery. If he could no longer feel it, the person had to move away from him. He grabbed Carla’s arm.

“Let’s go.” he said sternly.

“I haven’t gotten any bread yet.” Carla protested.

“I’ll have some sent to your room.” The leader promised, “we need to go now.” The two exited the bakery. The leader looked down the street in both directions, but he just didn’t sense it anymore. Whoever it was, was now out of detection range. The person he was looking for was here. He was almost sure of it now.

That night Gina had a dream.

She was seeing all the Kingdom’s of the world and all their splendor, then she saw the people. The people who were used as pawns by the world’s elites. She could hear those people cry out for help. They needed relief from their suffering. She saw a man rise. It was the same man she saw in the bakery with Carla. He had a vast army at his command. He moved across the world, liberating the masses from their oppression. This war that had engulfed Gina’s Kingdom. It didn’t start or stop with them. The war would continue until it reached the end of the world.

She saw information flow in this new empire and the advances that there made benefited all who belonged to it. This man was going to force the world to become one, confident in the fact that once that happened, everyone would be happier.

Gina heard another cry for help, a specific cry from a specific person. It was someone she knew but he was far away. She had to get to him somehow, his life depended on it.

She woke up and for the first time in her life, she had purpose.