try to impress others, as his style was his alone. I looked into his eyes and that smile. It made the world around me seem to float away. I was blushing thinking, he was gorgeous and he was with me.
It was a great afternoon lying on Daniel’s quilt feeling the sunshine soak through me. I loved listening to Daniel tell stories of different places as his voice always gave me a feeling that was familiar yet I couldn’t remember, but didn’t care.
Something was glistening in the sun. A rainbow of colors, I never paid much attention to it before. It was from Daniel’s belt, a knife. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve seen hunting knives like my Dad’s but this one was different. The sheath was white and was luminescent, as if made out of quartz or moonstone. The hilt looked like two gold leaves, the handle looked to have five sides. The top had a soft blue stone that seemed to move in the light, as if it was watching me. Yep, I was losing it! It looked like a delicate dagger, the kind that would be worn on the beaded belt of a lady of the court in Camelot. It was so beautiful but somehow menacing at the same time.
“What are you looking at?” He asked.
“Your knife, it’s beautiful but what kind of stone is that and why is it watching me?” Looking up at that smile and those eyes, I just felt a pleasant warming sensation.
“Tomorrow.” Feeling a bit frustrated, the thought of a puzzle piece missing in my mind came back to me. Where was that piece that I was missing? I didn’t understand what “tomorrow” was supposed to mean. I stared at Daniel knowing the look on my face was screaming for help. Daniel’s smile was reassuring.
“Your father said that I could take you stargazing. If you still wanted to go?”
I took in a deep breath letting it fill my body as the worry quickly faded away.
“I would love to go.” Time with Daniel and his peaceful calming influence that seemed to radiate from him would definitely be good for me. Daniel stood, gazing at the sunset. Closing his eyes he lifted his face appearing tranquil and haunted at the same time. He turned back to me smiling his smile, the one that I loved, one that made his eyes light up from somewhere deep inside.
“The sunset tonight is beautiful like it’s burning with the fire of life. Kind of a reminder.” He held his hand out to help me to my feet. “And I think it’s time we should be getting you home.”
As I looked at the sunset again I noticed a star, the first one of the night, the wishing star. “Daniel look,” as I pointed. “We need to make a wish!” Taking a step back I must have tripped over the curb or something. Because next thing I remember I was lying on the sidewalk and my head was throbbing.
I could hear Daniel calling my name, “Hope… Hope are you all right?”
“Just a little dizzy,” I told him and thinking a lot more embarrassed. Daniel was kneeling beside me, holding my hand.
“Hope, are you sure you’re all right?”
As I opened my eyes, I saw the sunset with only Daniel’s silhouette in front of me. With the sunset behind him, he looked like a fiery glowing figure. There was my beautiful nightmare starting over again. Yet, I wasn’t asleep. Blue eyes were staring at me, this time not with determination but confusion. Ice blue eyes like Daniel’s eyes… like Daniel’s.
“Hope?” This voice, Daniel’s voice, was not comforting but a bit frightened.
With tears in my eyes and streaming down my face I managed, “This can’t be real! It can’t!” Now I was frightened. “You?” As I pointed at him, “It was you, you were there?” The look on his face went from frightened to an understanding as he closed his eyes. “You were there, I remember.” I couldn’t say any more. I was crying and dizzy and my head hurt. I felt like I was falling apart.
“Yes.” He said as he kneeled beside me. “Yes, I was there, I was with you.”
“But my dream? It’s turning into a nightmare. I keep trying to see the truth, reality, but I can’t. It’s all so foggy, like some of my memories.”
“Hope,” Daniel picked me up off the ground and carried me over to a small rock bench. He sat me gently on the bench and as he sat down Daniel hugged me. “What do you mean you’re having nightmares? Have you told anyone?”
“No!” I cried, “I feel like I’m losing my mind. As if the way people are looking at me already isn’t bad enough.”
“Hope, please talk to me, I want to help.”
“Daniel, you must think I’m nuts.”
“Why would I think that?” He held my shaking hands.
“Because it’s about you and what I think I saw that night.”
“What exactly do you remember?” His voice was kind and soft.
“I saw you Daniel. You were holding my hands. You were telling me that I was going to be O.K. I didn’t realize it until now but it was you wasn’t it?”
His voice remained soft. “I’m sorry that you’ve had nightmares. I didn’t want that to happen. I was there to help you, not to hurt you, never hurt you.”
“Daniel, but it’s also the other things I believe I saw that make me think I’m going crazy? Sometimes it feels like a beautiful nightmare. Daniel,” I started crying again, “when I looked up at you, the air around you looked like it was on fire, the aurora borealis. I don’t really know, and the blanket that you were holding around me glowed, and looked like wings. I know I’m going crazy.”
He just smiled at me, as if it was a private joke. “You are not crazy.”
“What… what did you say?” It just wouldn’t sink in.
He was still smiling at me. “I said you’re not crazy nor are you going crazy!”
“You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“Hope, I’m not lying to you.” He was still smiling which made me really worry.
“Then you’re… an… angel? My guardian angel?”
“Angel… yes.” He said with a chuckle. “A guardian angel… no.” I was starting to hate that little smile of his, it made me feel… actually I didn’t know how I was feeling right now. “It’s getting late and I need to get you home. That bump on your head might need an aspirin or two. Tomorrow I’ll tell you more and answer any questions, tonight you have enough to think about, and you need your sleep. Deal?”
“Deal.” At least I wasn’t going crazy, yet, I think.
Knight
* A man who served his sovereign or lord as a soldier in armor
Chapter 5 - Daniel’s story
It was a quiet ride back to Hope’s house. As we got into the car, I turned the radio down low, waiting for Hope to ask me more questions but she just smiled at me closing her eyes. I drove out of the parking lot and down the twisting streets, waiting to hear the sound of her voice. When I didn’t, I turned to ask how she was feeling only to find Hope had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful, just the soft sound of her breathing setting its own beat with the music.
“Hope, it’s time to wake up, you’re home.” I gently touched her hand, as she opened her eyes slowly and gave me a strange look. I got out of the car but her eyes never left me as I walked around to open her door. I offered her my hand, not sure how steady she was, and walked her to the front door.
“Will I really see you tomorrow night?” She asked as her eyes stared into mine. What more was there to say then the truth. “Yes… good night Hope, and have sweet dreams.” I bent forward and kissed her gently on the forehead. I don’t know why I did it, but it felt like the right thing to do.
After dropping off Hope I don’t remember driving home,