THE MAGIC OF ASTORIA BEGINS

The alarm clock rings, jolting me from slumber. I groggily stand up from my seat and stretch for a bit. I have to get this work done. I have to complete this book by the end of the week; else Queen Adelaide will not be happy. See, the queen is my best friend. She has been for the past twenty years. Our relationship is a funny one. It all began when I was twenty two. I had just completed my degree in Literature. With nothing to do, I decided to put more time into my writing and so began the routine I followed every single day without fail.

I have always had a pretty great imagination and I could easily transform my thoughts into words with a unique charm. It is what made my lecturers and my colleagues love my essays. I had never attempted to write a whole novel, I always opted for short stories, until I did. “The magic of Astoria” was my home, my universe. I loved it here. Each waking moment, I had spent it with the people. I conversed with them and I played with the children. Mickey, that little rascal, loved to tease and play pranks and you would have never believed he was a prince; Queen Adelaide’s first born especially. I had been there when Queen Adelaide and King Mozart met and fell in love. I dare say that is my own ship that has never sunk.

I had promised Queen Adelaide that I would complete the book by the end of the week and I now had four days left. In truth, the book series had grown into a vast world. I did not want it to end, because I would be out of a job. I had no idea why, but for the past few years, the Queen had been pressuring me to finish it. She always claimed that more cities and worlds needed my magic. She told me that I could not stay too long and that I was not doing myself justice. I felt at peace here, so I would add a new chapter, and eventually a new book. She would get angry, but she would always write in her journal that she was glad I was staying for a bit more.

She and the king were my family. My real family is dead, except for my big brother, but we lost touch after our parents died in that tragic accident on my graduation day. I did not mind it and I accepted their deaths rather quickly. It did not affect me as such because the queen was there for me and always made me laugh. I used to long for such a love as Ade and Mozart have, but now I don’t. I used to have that, once upon a long while ago. We were soul mates until he suggested I should check in with a psychiatrist and that was that. I have not thought of him in so long.

I recall the day that he left. It was two years after my parents’ death and I was throwing knives with Ade in her backyard. He was yelling that I was acting crazy and asking me who the hell Ade was. How could he not recognize my best friend? Was he never being keen in our relationship? I told him everything and we had moved to Astoria just after the death. He was saying so much, but the most prominent one was that I was acting crazy and maybe he should take me to see a psychiatrist. I asked him to leave and never come back and he did.

That is the past though. I am at the final chapter of the final book of the series. I am scared. What will happen to Ade when I leave? How will I survive in another world? I doubt whether I will be able to adjust to another world and to new people. If I do not do it, Mozart will ban me from Astoria. Ade made him swear and said it was for my own good. In all honesty, I feel like it is all a load of buffalo dung. I dare not defy them again. This time, it seems pretty serious.

I start to write, and write and write. Taking only a few short breaks to take a shower and drink the coffee I brew at exactly 10.15 am and 11.22 am, just like every other day. This, however, is not every other day. Today I say goodbye. So, I write and write.

When the evening comes, I bake the biscuits as always and warm some milk for Mickey and Ade. I add a small sponge cake to celebrate the end of the book. I have the final sentence in mind but I want to write it with Ade here. It is only fitting. My normally cluttered living room is now for once in order. Don’t get me wrong, I keep it clean, but I like the scattered mess of writing material and stationary. The sweet smell of cake fills a homely smell all over my small one-bedroom house. Ade gave me this place when we first arrived with him here.

I try keep up with my bills through my portion of the inheritance. I did not want Ade to feel like I was burdening her. A knock on my door shocks me. Ade never knocks. She just comes in like she belongs here. She never feels like she is intruding and in all honesty she never is. I should probably check who it is.

I open the door and find my brother there. I have not seen him in so long.

“Hey Sam. I did not know you were in Astoria. You could have called I would have picked you up from the station.” I say, feeling a bit confused.

“Hey Nina. Ca-Can I come in?” He simply responds.

I move from the door to let him in. I have no idea what to say to him, or how to even greet him.

“Uhm, Ade, my best friend will be here soon. I made this for them, but can I make you a mug of coffee before they arrive? I’m sure Ade will be glad to see you. She is the queen around here, you know. Oh you are just in time for the mini celebration.” I ramble. I tend to do that when nervous. I rub my hands together, then on my dress. Sweaty palms, ugh.

“It’s okay, coffee sounds good, thanks. Uh, if you don’t mind me asking, what do you mean queen?” He asks quietly.

“What do you mean by what do you mean queen? How are you even in Astoria if you do not know about the King and Queen? Surely they should have cleared you in order for you to be allowed into the State.” I start to feel puzzled. This does not sit right with me. He couldn’t have, no, no way. He could be killed for that.

Before he even replies I ask very worriedly, “Did you enter illegally? Do you have a death wish? Do you want to be fed to the hell-hounds? Here they are not pitbulls, they are dragons!”

He stares at me with a very scared and worried expression. Hmm, he should totally be worried. His expression then morphs to one of guilt.

“This is all my fault. I should not have left you alone. I’m sorry Nina.” More confusion follows as he says this and I ask him to clarify. By now, the coffee has been long forgotten and I am seated on a seat directly opposite him. He has to hurry. If Ade finds him, she might not be so kind. He could be a security threat.

“The past four years have been hell for me Nina. After Ma and Pa died, I could not handle things so much. I needed to fix myself and let go of the blame I felt towards you. I felt like it was all your fault they died in that accident. It was your graduation day and dad was driving so fast to get to there in time. Dad was on the phone with you when he got hit. I remember specifically telling you to just stay calm and be patient that they would get there soon but you would not listen. I had to leave the country after the burial to bury the hate that was starting to grow towards you. When Georgie called to say you were losing it, I told him to leave me alone. He then wrote emails to me severally, telling me that you were spending all your days writing and whispering about absurd things. He finally lost it when he found you throwing knives on the walls and laughing. He called and told me he had left. I thought it was all a grand scheme to get me here, but I was so wrong. I am sorry Ade, but it will be okay. I am here now. I will get you the help you need. I promise.” He says with teary eyes.

I think my brother has finally lost his mind. I have a feeling Ade will be here soon. I should get him out of here.

“You need to leave. Right now, before Ade gets here. I don’t want you in trouble with the Queen. You need to leave, please.” I respond, ignoring his entire previous crazy statement.

He is quiet for a bit, then takes out his phone and types something in it. He should not have brought that here. We did not use phones here, they were banned. I had one, but in secret.

“Keep that away! Again, do you have a death wish? Please go away.” I again plead.

He sighs, then says, “Fine, I will go. But, I brought a few friends with me. Could you show us how to leave? We do not know how to navigate this place.”

Of course he did, and of course they don’t. How reckless. Ade will be here soon. I should probably write her a note and leave the finished final book for her to go through before I return. Sneaking my idiot brother and his idiot friends around will not be easy.

“Okay, just let me finish this one thing, then I will lead you to the station. When you get there, you are on your own. If I am spotted with you, then I will say you kidnapped me. Those are my terms.” I say with finality.

Picking up my pen and the book, I scribble a note on a post-it first.

Ade, I have an urgent errand. I will be back before you know it. I finished the book. Enjoy it and the biscuits and milk. DO NOT CUT THE CAKE WITHOUT ME. See you in a bit my Queen.

¬Your great hand, Nina.

I then flip quickly to the last written page, and I scribble:

Great stories have been told, but Astoria was the greatest. She transcended space and time and she was a home to all who needed her to be. She looked back at the door slowly closing, the light slowly dimming, the darkness that was brimming, and she said goodbye.

The tears flow down my face as I finish the paragraph, having added more words to the sentence initially in mind. It feels as though I was saying goodbye to a friend.

My brother is watching me as I stand up and motion for us to hurry and leave. Just as we step out of the door, I look back. The magic is gone. I feel sharp pangs of pain in my chest. The house looks ordinary. My brother did that, he ruined it.

I turn and slap him, letting all the pain out. My arms are grabbed and tied to my back and I am dragged to a police car. I have not committed any crime.

I sigh as I look out the car window. Maybe it is the start of another adventure. Who knows where they are taking me.

Side note: Yes, it is my 21st. After many hours in my head, I decided to publish this story by me. Also, as part of my 21 by 21 goals, my first book is complete. Now You See Me… will soon be published and ready for all of you to read. My anthology, The Poetic Adage, is headed to completion and well, once it is, it will be out for all of you to read. To all of you, many thanks for all the love and the continued support and your kind comments and encouraging words. To me, Patricia, this year we go bigger and harder. You know you always got you. Regards, The Darkheartemoji. Your Pun Queen and Poetic Goddess.