The Stranger

It’s a cold, blustery December evening, and I’m walking home from the store. The sun was just starting to go down while the snow fell from treetops making the scene glisten. It hadn’t snowed much today, just a little had started falling before I went into the store. As I looked around some more, I noticed that no one else was out at this time. My footprints would be the only ones on the sidewalk until the snow covered them again. I wish I had seen someone out. It had been almost a year since my parents had died, and I was hoping to see one of their friends out in town.

I lived by myself in a cabin just outside of town. I had to get a few items on my way back home. I didn’t remember leaving my house though, or when exactly I had left. I also do not remember why I did leave to come today. I could have waited until my weekly day to go into town. Today was not that day. 

I glanced behind me and stopped dead in my tracks. The snow behind me was just as untouched as the ground ahead. I wasn’t leaving any footprints behind me. How could I not be leaving a trail of footprints? There was enough snow for it. I sat down on the nearest bench and stared at the ground in dismay. What could be going on?

I heard the door of a nearby shop swing open as a young man walked out. As he began to walk and tread on, I noticed that he wasn’t leaving any footprints either. I left my items and began to walk after him, trying to gain his attention.

“Sir. Sir!” I yelled, waving my hand, catching up to him, “Sir! Did you know that you’re not leaving footprints in the snow? I noticed that I wasn’t and when I saw you, you weren’t either!”

He stopped and turned around, giving me a small smile. He was very handsome and looked to be about my age. I looked at him in confusion as he began to smile broader as though he was trying to contain laughter as well. His eyes crinkled in the corners when he did this.

“Sir? You don’t even remember me from earlier do you?” He began to laugh and shake his head in disbelief, “Wow. I help you and show you something spectacular and you remember nothing.”

I stare at him, even more confused than before. I didn’t understand what he found to be so funny, or why he decided to laugh directly to my face. He thought that I knew him, yet I have never met him before. He didn’t look like anyone around here either. He was taller than most males in town, and had curly black hair and bright blue eyes. Most here were blonde with green or brown eyes. 

He looked and saw that I was still dumbfounded and stopped laughing. His eyes narrowed in disbelief, and I could tell that he was hurt. I didn’t believe I had ever seen him before, yet he seemed to know exactly who I was. He regained his composure again and looked me in the eyes.

“Something must have gone wrong,” He said looking at me, “I was just in your cabin earlier today explaining everything to you, and you were fine with it then. Come, I’ll walk with you back there, and we will sit and discuss everything again. Maybe your memory will return.”

I watched as he turned around and walked away when I noticed it. I noticed why he seemed to be so tall. He was floating! Above the snowy sidewalk where he left no prints! I froze mid step and gasped.

“I know why you’re not leaving any footprints. It’s because you’re floating above the ground! How is that even possible? You’re a human like me. You shouldn’t be able to do something like that,” I exclaimed while pointing at him accusingly. My anger and fear began to grow more when he looked back at me and began to laugh. “What’s so funny? I’m not the freak to be laughing at here.”

“Have you looked down at your own feet?” He asked me. He pointed down and began to smile more at me while laughing harder, “You’re floating too! Now stop questioning everything and follow me back to your cabin. I’ll explain everything again their and maybe get through that head again.” I glanced down at me feet and had to do a double take. He was right. I was floating above the snow. It explained why I wasn’t leaving any prints in the snow. I decided I might as well follow this stranger back to my place. He seemed to know where he was going. I had no memory of earlier today at all. I didn’t really remember anything before I went into the store. He seemed to know what was going on, and he was floating as well.

We arrived at my cabin a lot more quickly than I had thought we would. I unlocked the door and led him in through the door. I went into the kitchen to put the bags away and sat at the table. The stranger took the seat across from me, and we stared at each other.

“Since you lost your memory, let me start from the beginning again. My name is William. I am the son of Queen Katara and King Quintin. They knew your parents very well. They were great friends. You and your parents are actually from our kingdom. Now I remember from this morning you were perplexed by a kingdom being around during these times. We are both not from this realm. You used to be in the Glakalus kingdom with us when you were a small child. In the realm everyone has the capability to fly and to heal. Before your parents left to come to this realm with humans, they betrothed you. They betrothed you to my parents first born son to be exact. Me…” He looked at me with guilt and sadness. I wonder what all I had said exactly when he first told me. I was still confused as to why I couldn’t remember anything. All of a sudden his face lit up with a realization.

“Lean your head forward, I can help you with all this!” He reached across the table and place his hand on my forehead. He continued to talk as he did so, “You must have hit your head after I taught you how to fly and refreshed your memory of life back in the kingdom. We can both heal. If I heal you, then I will heal your memory as well!” 

Slowly, his magic worked its way into my body and began healing a goose egg I didn’t realize I had on the back of my head. My memory began to come back. I remembered everything that happened today. I remember him telling me about everything.

“I remember everything William. Thank you. Now,” I paused and smiled at him, “Let’s go home.” He smiled back at me, and we flew back to the kingdom.