Royally Emma by Lucia Roberts (classic literature list .txt) 📖

never, ever, seen anyone here but myself, a few stragglers and the people who keep to the village. I'm still gaping. I must look like a fish that is gasping for breath. “I, uhm, pardon me but why, uh..” He laughed again as I put a hand to my temple.

 “As long as you can talk, everything else can be figured out in due time.”
 “Yes.” That was all I could come up with.
 “Well nowh, why dontcha come out from behind that tree Deary?” I looked at my clothes and back at his and just felt, well, ridiculously out of place. I had on a white long sleeve shirt and jeans with black boots. The shirt was one of my favorites actually because it fit tight around the waist and the sleeves were flowy from the elbows down with a square neckline. I knew what they wore so I shouldn't feel this odd; though actually being confronted made me feel like an intruder.. even in my own dream and I can't feel normal. Craziness.
 
 “I don't know that that would be a terribly brilliant idea.” His face softened even more (which is something I didn't think possible at this point) and he held out a hand.
 “Come on Sn-” he coughed “come on, it's alright. No-one's goin' to hurtcha.” 
 “It's not that... I just, I can't. I'm staying here.” and I nodded my head just to confirm the fact that I was set on doing so. Not that he could see that or anything considering I'm still behind a tree and all. I let my forehead fall to rest on the brutally patterned bark. What an idiot I am here.
 “Well, suit yourself. I think I'm going to stay as well. Have a look at the scenery.” He takes a few steps past me and without looking back says “You're welcome to join me if ya feel so inclined.”

I turned so my back was again pressed to the tree and squeezed my eyes shut in frustration. I wanted to follow him but then again I didn't want to be involved here. I don't want to know anyone or be tied to anything here in any way because then I may get to a point where I will never be able to go home. But then again... I hated being here for hours on end, in the dark, alone. Ugh! Fine. I slowly turned around with only a small groan to my possible impending doom. 

I'd heard stories after all (all of us have) and they all flooded me as I stepped over the bushes I'd brushed past whilst running. They were stories of my kind who'd just slipped away one day, never to return. The doctors argued that they lost control of their souls, some said that their bodies couldn't handle the re-acceptance of the soul anymore, other said they died of natural causes and some said they chose to stay. How one can choose something inside of something they didn't choose doesn't make sense to me.

I glanced at him out of my thinking/wandering daze, and seeing as he was still walking (as if my presence altered him none) I let myself slip back into my thoughts.

None of us chose to have our souls freak out and stay in the Other-Realm. So how, honestly how, can one choose to pick one realm or the other? Do you subconsciously tell your body to die or your soul to let go? I was pretty sure that people don't have control over those types of things.

I've never asked anyone, doctors or otherwise, if any of these were true. Maybe because they all have opinions and every one of their opinions is right according to their research; or maybe because I'm scared to know if they've found an answer and what it might be.

I glanced up again. Only, I didn't see him anywhere behind me, so I look to the right,and the to the left of me, and on the small beaten path only a few peddlers use as trade routes in and out of the town, I see him slowly meandering with his hands held loosely at the small of his back where the buttons line up on his waist coat. I started to follow; keeping only to the shady inside of the woods. I didn't bother being quiet but when I caught up to him I held back a few steps so I would keep behind him. I guess 'impending doom' would be the wrong term. If I honestly believed that I wouldn't be getting up to follow him now would I?

 “Ladies aren't required to trail behind as a puppy dog may.” He said after a few minutes of walking 'together'. I could hear the smile in his voice; as if he was proud he could get me to follow.
 “You don't have to be so smug about it.” I mumbled; not really meaning for him to hear. He startled me when he replied
 “I am noht smug, m'lady, just happy in my accomplishment to have let a young lady not spend the night alowne as she would have had I just passed 'er by.” I stopped walking. I was not sure whether I was to be insulted or charmed. He stopped a few paces ahead but didn't turn. “Not meant to be insulting madam, just merely speaking me thoughts. Come along now; I wish to show you something.”
Well, what else was I gunna do? So, I followed; a bit grudgingly I'm afraid. I resisted the urge to mock him, with all my scrunched face glory, and at least took pride in that for the fleeting moment I had it.

As we trudged through the woods I tried to recall all the details I'd read on the few souls that got trapped in their Other-Realms. Of course it was hard to get details from an empty person, but, everyone who was around the 'missing' person had seemed to think it was by choice that they stayed. So, technically, that is not a ganghad that needs to be dominating my thoughts, at least, not right now. I make a mental note to research it later. Still, the thought lingered around me like a haunted conscience. I tried to remember that these were 'documentations' by the scientists whom believed that souls choose and not by a panel of doctors who all con cured on the set fact that such things can happen. No such group of doctors exist; yet. I sort of hope, for my own mental health, that no-one will do so until after I die and leave both these goram worlds behind.

As we went deeper into the forest, the trees started changing by styles and I heard water in the distance: all details that began to temporarily distract me from my thoughts.  Right outside the village there were many Cedar and Redwood trees that always were in bounty and some holly, mistletoe, and raspberry thickets lay around. But we walked further and now Weeping Willows begged to be consoled as their branches swept our shoulders and waists while pines wept with them and let their needles blanket the earth.  The water is obviously running as the sound grows louder and clearer. It must be a waterfall. I can still hear songbirds which hum different tunes of my favorite songs amongst the trees and I revel in their familiarity. It must be a small waterfall, but still, a waterfall.
I love waterfalls, especially with the ledges that wind behind the falls into a cave. I think I could live in one if I had to. Might not be the safest place in the world, but, it has water, shelter, and is hidden. I like hidden.

The woods are starting to thin and it is rather bright for sundown. The Irish Man stops for a moment at some of the last trees on the outskirts of the clearing where the waterfall is for a moment. Without turning around he says “This is where I go when I need to be alowne. If you stay here overnight from wherever you come from, I would sujest a young lady stay here instead of off in the woods where trouble may liye in hongry waiht.” He turns and I move behind a pine. He smiles as I peer out. “I hope you like it here.”

He walks out into the paling light and disappears. I walk cautiously to the edge of the clearing. Before me to my left is a small waterfall; just as I suspected. It was weird because the water didn't look like it came from anywhere besides maybe just up from the ground and through the tiny mountain of rock it fell from. But, the water was as blue as a cloudless sky did not seem as dangerous as one would be in real life. It seems that Other-Realms have their perks. Not a whole lot of things that seem life-threatening is definitely a perk! It was an odd thing though. The small mountain just sort of came from nowhere inside these woods and then the falls fell into a small river sort of thing that went on for a ways, probably thirty feet across, and then went into a giant pool the size of an old time Olympic swimming pool that had small constant waves lapping at the sand on the edge of the pool as if it were coming from and ocean and not a waterfall. The other strange thing was it seemed to be not so deep on one side as it was on the other, like a permanent slant or something. The center seemed really deep though, maybe it was a circuit type water system? That just sounds ridiculous. I will just accept it for what it is, pretty, and leave it alone to be un-figured out; as you must most things here in Other-Realm.

I wanted so badly to adventure into this beautiful side of Other-Realm but, I didn't want Him to suddenly leave if he saw all of me... or what I'm wearing. Not that it's bad or anything; just, not the 1790-1898 styles everyone here is wearing. But, then again, it's not like I want him to stay or be here in the first place anyways. So, here goes nothing I guess. I slowly walked towards the water, staring down only inches in front of my feet and glancing to my left and right in turn. I see Him wandering towards my left; back to me, so I make a dash towards the water and fall to my knees in front of it.

The water was clear as cellophane and reflected my impish face and auburn mess of layered ringlet curls. As I looked past my reflection I saw the sandy bottom of the river-pool and many small colourful fish swam up and down the stream as aimless as a lazy summer day. I leaned down close and a few of them swam just below the surface and swam in circles following my finger as I twirled it through the liquid. They were all really cute, except for one I was going to call Bubbles. He was quite ugly actually. He had what looked like half-full air pockets that floated around his eyes; other than that he was brown and speckled with darker shades of black and gray and brown.
 “What is his name?” The voice startled me but I tried not to show it.
 “Bubbles” I replied quietly. I shivered, letting the small amount of embarrassment seep from my skin and into the air to be whisped away. He chuckled.
 “Quite fitting for such a character.” I nodded. I could feel as he stepped just close enough to lean over me and watch the little fish as I drew it through my refection. “And still you do noht allohw me to see youhr face. Are you deformed?”
 “Of course not!” I exclaimed; rather loudly for such a quiet place. I immediately regretted it. “No-one is deformed