Coming Home

I glance at the face of my wristwatch, then back at the white wall. I shut my eyes and think hard of the place I want most to be. I open my eyes to a grassy backyard at mid-day. I turn in circles, taking everything in. Hundreds of flowers grow in blues and pinks and yellows and violets. The aroma is almost too sweet, but soothing. I steady myself as pebbles shift under my feet. Birds sing softly in the trees. The sun isn't too bright, but seems to leave a glow around everything it touches. It reflects in the small pond in the corner of the yard and bounces off the shingles of the little yellow shed. I start walking down the pebble path, breathing in deep, remembering everything. I hear a soft crunch of leaves and turn to see a sleek white and orange tabby cat peering at me from behind an abandoned wheelbarrow. I smile and bend down, hand outstretched.
"Hey, Chester. Miss me?"
The cat hisses and retreats into the growing shadows.
I hear a small laugh behind me. "Please tell me you didn't come all this way to say goodbye to that stubborn old cat."
I spin around and come face to face with a girl. Her curly brunette hair bounces as she laughs again, her chocolate brown eyes sad. She wears a thin pale-blue dress that hangs to her ankles, and she's barefoot, yet seems unaffected by the hard stones under our feet. As I reach out to touch her, she nods and says, "Yes, I'm real, Cole." She takes my hand and guides it to her cheek, then turns to examine the garden. "This is really where you wanted to see me?"
I smile. "It's the only thing I could think of."
She laughs gently. "Lots of memories in this place."
I pull her into a hug, desperate for her warmth. She nestles her face into my neck and asks, "How long?"
I swallow hard and glance at my watch. "Two minutes."
She nods against me and holds me tighter. I feel hot tears on my skin.
I move one hand to her neck and I hold her closer. "But it's okay."
I take a deep breath and we stand there for a good while. Then I say,"It's okay. I'm coming home to you."