Stay? Or Go?

It was a nice fall day as I contently made my way along the long trail that snaked through the large, wooded area not too far from my house. I enjoyed making my way around the scrawny, dead trees with bare branches, crunching through the piles of leaves covering the ground, and watching the squirrels and bunnies chase each other. I took this walk several times a week to clear my head and think about life. 

I gave a startled yelp and stopped in my tracks after taking a step around a tree and seeing a sleek black cat standing in my path. It stared at me as if it were expecting me. "Calm down Sarah," I instructed myself, catching my breath.

“Hey there little guy,” I softly said, looking at him with curiosity. “You sure look a lot like Cubby.” I muttered after a couple of minutes. 

 Cubby had been my Aunt Clara’s cat. My Aunt Clara who went missing just over a year ago. Staring at the mysterious black cat, who continued to stare intently back at me, I suddenly remembered it hadn’t been too far from this very spot that Aunt Clara had last been seen. It had been common for Aunt Clara to take Cubby for walks along the trails in the area. These woods hosted a mix of trails that all connected to each other at some point. One day while her and Cubby had been on one of their walks, Aunt Clara just never made it home. A fellow hiker had seen her, so law enforcement had known where to start their search. A massive search party lasting for two weeks devastatingly ended with absolutely no answers, but instead, more questions. Not one trace of anything had been discovered. It was almost as if she and Cubby had just vanished into thin air. The area wasn’t known to have any predators, and no type of struggle or foul play was ever found. So, was a cat who looked identical to Cubby now standing in front of me just a coincidence? Or was something more at work? 

The cat gave a little meow and started to slink his body around a tree trunk. When he turned and began casually strolling away, I knew without a doubt I was going to follow him. A wave of emotions came over me as I made my way through piles of dead crunchy leaves and thin twigs that broke under my feet. Aunt Clara and I had been so close and spent so much time together throughout my twenty-two years of life. My alcoholic parents never had any time for me. Which I preferred, because when they did have time, it mainly consisted of verbal and emotional abuse; berating or beating me every chance they got. I spent a lot of time at Aunt Clara’s house growing up because she was my safe haven, she was someone I looked up to, she was someone I was able to talk to about things I couldn't talk to my mother, or to anyone else, about. She also never left my side when I myself began experimenting with drugs and alcohol. She never left my side when I got so bad I had to check myself into rehab. She never made me feel like a failure or a lost cause. She helped encourage me and was a huge part when I got my life back on track. This was a year ago. 

As all of this went through my mind, I suddenly realized I had no idea how long I had been following this black cat that looked so much like Cubby, nor did I know where I even was. I stopped to catch my breath. My legs felt sore, and I was sweating as if I had been walking for hours. But that couldn’t even be possible. The black cat was still in front of me, staring at me intensely with bright green eyes. He turned around to continue his walk, looked back at me, gave a little meow, then continued forward. I knew I was going to keep following him, although I wasn’t completely sure why. Not 50 feet later, the bare dead trees and the trail itself were completely gone, and as far as I could see, there was nothing but lilac bushes, weeping willows, and all kinds of green luscious trees filled with a variety of singing birds. Amongst the bright green grasses were wildflowers sprouting out in all colors imaginable. In the distance I could hear the roar of a waterfall. It all gave me a feeling of peace I never knew was possible to feel. 

“Where am I?” I asked aloud, spinning in circles trying to take everything in. I had never seen this place before, and I walked these trails regularly.

“Hello my child.” The familiar voice froze me. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. After a moment, I slowly turned and found myself looking into the same eyes that had given me so much love and warmth throughout my life. My throat swelled and my eyes blurred as I stared speechless at Aunt Clara, who stood holding a content and purring Cubby in her arms. 

“Am I in Heaven?” I asked. “Or a dream?” I reached out to touch her, feeling no fear, no dread. When my hand made contact with the soft skin of her face I knew so well, I knew then without a doubt that wherever I was, it was somewhere special and wonderful. 

“No dear.” Aunt Clara eyes twinkled as she spoke. “Everyone here is living. We are just living in what you could call a parallel universe. A universe where there is nothing but love and beauty. There is little village just across the hill over there. A small village that a couple hundred people get to call home. A hundred wonderful caring people, people who know no evil; know nothing but kindness. This is a special place where only certain people are invited to come. I know we have much to talk about, I have much to tell you. But we do not have enough time right now. You and I have always trusted each other, always looked out for one another. And I choose you. Choose you to come here to live the rest of your time. It is your decision if you would like to stay. You do have the choice to return to your normal life, and I wouldn’t love you any less. However, the decision must be made within ten minutes. And this opportunity will never again come” 

Listening to all of this, I thought of my miserable dead-end job, my lack of any true friends or family, the lifestyle I so desperately wanted to break free from. As I stared into the sparkling, caring eyes of the only person who has ever truly given me love and safety, as I smelled the fresh lilacs and listened to the birds sing, I knew my answer. I gave Cubby a scratch behind his ears, took my Aunt Clara's hand, and turned towards the weeping willows as the three of us walked towards my new life.