Within Reach

Photo by Buzz Anderson on Unsplash

Dawn jogged along the mountain trail. Around her, summer was getting into full swing. The trees were green and shady, birds chipped and darted through the leaves, and occasionally she caught sight of a chipmunk scurrying by. School was almost out for the kids and they’d be sailing on the lake soon. She smiled. Could life get any better than this? Well, okay, maybe if her missing memories ever came back… but that was a thing best not to fret about. She’d made peace with her patched together half a life. Forward was the way to go, not backwards.

She thought she heard a shout and a moment later, a strange woman ran out of the tree line. Dawn jumped back in surprise as the other woman spoke, “Reinhild! Is it really you? I thought… We all thought you were dead! Where’s Arnau?”

Dawn took another step back. There had been two times before when she’d thought she’d found someone from her past life. Once a woman had claimed to be her mother. DNA testing had quickly squelched that hope though. The other time some creep had claimed to be her husband. It had taken years to get rid of him.

“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Dawn said firmly, wondering how fast she could run if things got out of hand. This woman was dressed in a long tunic and leggings that simultaneously reminded her strongly of a raincoat and a very cozy blanket. Her hair was braided around her head with small gold medallions laced through it. She looked like one of those cosplay people Darcy was interested in.

The woman looked at her incredulously, “It’s me, Dietlinde!” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Dawn said stiffly.

“How-” Dietlinde broke off what she was going to say and looked at her closely, taking in Dawn’s jogging clothes and ponytail. “What’s happened to you? You can’t have forgotten…” Her voice trailed off and she waved her hands. Gold light appeared swirling into intricate patterns. Dawn’s heart skipped a beat. The light from her dreams. The light that sometimes surrounded Darcy. In the patterns, a scene formed. A sailboat, and two girls on it. They were younger, but it was clearly herself and the strange woman. Steam billowed over the waters they sailed in, covering the boat for a moment, then blowing away and revealing a glimpse of something red and glowing. Lava? What where they thinking? Was that even safe? Dawn shook her head. Whatever was happening, there were more important questions.

Dietlinde looked at her imploringly, “You said that was the best day of your life.”

Dawn took a shaky breath, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She said again. “But..” But what? She wouldn’t admit to knowing this person, no matter how desperately she wanted to. Somewhere a voice whispered that the safe thing was to get away. Run fast, and never look back. But she was hungry for answers, and for the first time, answers seemed within her reach. “Have you had breakfast?” She finally asked.

Dietlinde looked startled, “No.”

“Then let’s get breakfast,” said Dawn, turning back towards her house. “And… and we’ll figure whatever this is out.”

Dietlinde nodded and followed her, “Sure.”



Dawn's becoming quite the character here. For more of her back story see Blank Slate and Out of Reach.