Stones Skipping in Time

Stone Skipping in Time


Matt looked about, trying to judge exactly where he was. That had become a difficult task recently, dreams that seemed all too real, then waking to find himself in strange places with no recollection of how he had gotten there. All together the experience left him confused and scared at what it all might mean. First he had gone to the doctor who had run so many tests he had lost count. He had been hooked up, put in, passed through and been under more strange machines than could remember. Each one had revealed no secret and medical science had offered up no silver bullet for his problems. So it was that he had ended up on the couch of Dr. Sakamoto. Ok, it wasn’t like he laid on the large leather sofa while the doctor stroked his goatee and scribbled cryptically on his notepad. Those stereotypical images did however come to mind whenever he entered the small office. The doctor always sat and listened quietly , ever so often offering an insight that Matt could think about. Mostly he asked questions, ridiculous questions that made his head swim while he tried to imagine exactly what the man trying to accomplish. Matt was at least past the point where he feared that he would go to the office and promptly be wrapped up and taken away somewhere so as to not menace society. He had visions of himself disappearing only to be found years later by someone he knew, drooling all over himself with a large scar on his forehead.

“Matt, it is unhealthy to stay in your same environment that forces your mind to take such drastic measures to escape the present circumstance. You freely admit how unhappy you are in job, your apartment, even this city seems to put an extraordinary amount of stress on you. My suggestion is to start small, trying to treat yourself to a better life. A new piece of furniture, some new clothes. Take responsibility for finding your own happiness so that your mind doesn’t feel like it has to make worlds to escape to while your body goes out looking for the same escape while you sleep.” Dr. Sakamoto made it all seem so obvious and so simple to deal with.

So Matt had replaced his furniture, which he found surprisingly fulfilling. While now he no longer dreaded nights at home, he still often found himself waking in strange places following the amazing dreams.

This morning he looked around and was somewhat surprised to recognize his surroundings. He was in the basement of a building some six or seven blocks away from his apartment building, and the reason he recognized it was that this was the third time he had awoke here. He picked himself off the floor and wondered if there any significance to that. He had at least become accustomed enough to this scenario that he now wore clothes and even shoes to bed. That was a lesson the he had learned early on. Even in a city as large as Chicago it was considered an event to see a man walking the streets in his underwear. So he quickly dusted himself off and headed towards where he knew the stairs to be. His mind raced while he walked home trying find some connection between himself, this building and his dreams. He first desperately tried to remember if he had ever been to this place in the past, But he came up with nothing. No ex-girlfriends, no old friends or relatives, no one he could remember had ever lived in that building. He was standing in front of his own building, so he decided to go up, make himself a cup of coffee and go over everything that had happened in last nights dream.

“Matthew, where have you been. I thought we had agreed to meet early in front on the fountains.”

Turning he saw that the voice belonged to a beautiful young woman, her long red hair tied back by a bright yellow scarf. Oh yes, Emma, he had met her some months back and they had found in each other something that seemed to complete the other. This was not just some romantic pining or some sexual attraction, no he knew better, it was as if destiny had struck him with a hammer the moment that they had met.

“Sorry my sweet, I got a message from an old friend and had to hurry to see him.” He hated lying to her, but what was he supposed to tell her? That he had the strangest dream or waking up again in some strange place of glass and rock. That in the dream he thought that this was the dream' and that ugly place was home. As if anyone would ever choose to live in a place where there where buildings so high that all around you the sun was blotted out of the sky.

“Oh Matthew, you had me so worried when you didn’t show up and no one seemed to know where you were. I do hope your friend is all right though.” Her face was full of genuine concern, that was Emma’s way, a heart that was filled with true empathy towards those around her.

“Well, he is a little bit befuddled, but I think that he will be fine in no time.” Matthew looked around him and was grateful that everything seemed so familiar, so comfortable.

“I figured we could go down by the stream today and have lunch. I promised Master Sutton to pick out some river rocks that are suitable for grinding herbs. Perfect excuse for a quiet afternoon alone.”

“Oh Matthew, that does sound wonderful. I’ll just run to the market and get a fresh loaf of bread. Did you want to come with me?”

Matthew looked at her and realized that indeed he did want to stay as close to her as possible so that he could ensure that he would not again lose himself somewhere else without her. Shaking his head, he realized that he was being overly fanciful and reminded himself that he was a man, not a love sick lad.

“No, no. You go ahead. I have to run home quick, and I will meet you at the bridge.’

Smiling, she gave him a quick kiss and then disappeared down the street humming softly to herself as she swayed through the throng. Matthew found himself humming the same tune as he turned and headed toward his home. He opened the door and was relieved to find no surprises, it was exactly as it should be. A small bed was set against the wall opposite to the only window. A desk littered with papers covered in ink spots shared the same wall pushed into the corner adjacent to a small shelf that held the few things that Matthew owned. A book that held the descriptions of different herbs and their uses that Master Sutton had given him along with a few other pieces suitable for an aspiring scholar. He quickly grabbed a small burlap sack and ran to meet Emma by the bridge. She was there shortly after he arrived and they set out to find a suitable place for a quiet lunch as well as his errand. After some time they found a large bend in the river where sand had deposited to form a small beach and the water moved slowly along a rather shallow patch where Matthew thought he could easily fulfill his task. He and Emma ate their lunch cheerfully, remarking on they thought different clouds looked like. Matthew tried his hardest to make sue that Emma kept laughing. That was when he felt most alive, when he was looking into her eyes and hearing her laughter. Quite a long time had passed when Emma mentioned that they should really be going before it was too late and the would forced to walk part of the way back to town in the dark. Suddenly, Matthew remembered why he had come out today in the first place and frantically grabbed his burlap sack and raced into the river. Emma sat on the shore laughing at him while he tried to pick out stones suitable as fast as he could.

“Matthew, I swear, one of these days Master Sutton will grow weary of your constant irresponsibility and turn you out.” Emma giggled because she knew that the old man looked at Matthew like a son, a son whom tended to more clown than anything.

“Ha! You joke about it now Emma, but if he turns me out how would I ever hope to support us when we get married.”

He was bent over felling along the bottom of the river as he barked towards the shore. His eyes suddenly grew large as he realized what it was that he had just said. Quickly he stood up and turned to see that the smile had vanished from Emma’s face as she stared at him in complete shock and what Matthew hoped was an anxious agreement of sentiment. Just as he started towards her on the shore he stepped on a rather small but very slippery rock, tripped and fell very clumsily forward into the river.

He felt the cold water splash against his face and spat, looking absently at his toothbrush.

“Matt my boy, you’re definitely loosing it. Dreaming of some different life with some woman so you can be some poor looser living in a one room shack.” Matt shook his head, granted it had been some time since he had even been on a date, let alone in a relationship, but this stupid romantic fantasy was ridiculous. Quickly he finished dressing and headed towards work. All the while he was on the train he thought it time to definitely make an appointment with the doctor.

He stumbled out of the elevator and lumbered laboriously towards his desk. Even the fact that it was Friday brought no comfort, and as the light above his desk flickered and hummed, he felt a little more of his life leave his body.

“Matt, you look like hell. Ever heard of a razor, or are you going nature boy on us?”
Looking up from his pile of papers, Matt looked up at the man that stood peeking over his cubicle wall. Dave was an up-and-comer, infinitely motivated and ambitious, his personality dripped with the same greasy nature as his slick black hair.

“No, no Dave. Wouldn’t think of bucking dress code. I’m afraid I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but I’ll rest up extra this weekend and be my old self again come Monday.”

Dave smiled and disappeared out of view, spewing something about declining productivity rates among Bill’s team. Matt pondered as Dave walked away, about his “old self”. He had once been much like Dave, driven and ambitious, but something had happened. It was like he had been left out in the sun without water and began to wither and fail. Oddly he thought of that other place, that other him and the girl name Emma. “Damn, maybe I could end up happy in a one room shack like that” Matt mused under his breath looking up at the flickering fluorescents that seemed about to die. He shook his head and turned his attention back towards his desk. He noticed an old ragged piece of paper that had been crammed among the reports stacked on his desk. Next to the perfect white of fresh paper this stuck out noticeably. Curious he carefully pulled it out, careful not to damage it. Upon a stained page that was coveredd with more ink blots that actual writing was a short and barely legible message. “To reveal the truth of the nature and existence, the word must be invoked” Then in much larger letters near the bottom was penned a single word. “VERITAS” Somehow Matt recognized it, the Latin word for truth. Scratching his head he turned the paper over several times, examining it carefully and reading it’s strange message again and again. The fluorescents hummed louder and louder, getting practically deafening, they blinked and flickered casting strange and dancing shadows everywhere in small space. All that Matt could see, however, was that one word. He stood and yelled “VERITAS!” The humming pitched and the light bulbs finally blinked out and Matt was left in darkness. The only light came from the windows on the far side of the office. The light seemed suddenly bright and he brought up his hand to shield his eyes and squinted hard.

Slowly his eyes adjusted to the blinding light and he let his hand fall away from his eyes. Looking around, he really did not know why he was surprised by his surroundings. Where else would a farmer be at midday but the fields, still though, he had been having those strange dreams. Bending over he loosened the large rock that had stopped his plow so suddenly. Picking it up he carried it and threw it atop a large pile of rocks that would someday make a grand new kitchen for Emmaline. Just then arms flung around his waist from behind, followed by a high pitched squeal.

“Daddy, mommy says that lunch is ready, so hurry”

Looking down he looked into the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. Leaning down he picked up the small girl and flung her atop his shoulders.
“We’d better not keep her waiting, besides it looks like it might rain.”

He sat her feet on the ground as they neared the house and he ran with the same exuberance towards the light haired woman that was waiting on the steps.

“Mommy, daddy says it might rain, does that mean we can bake for him while we finishes my horse in the shed?”

“Matthias,” Emmaline smiled as she scolded the man, “how many times do I have to tell you, waiting for change is a waste. Just deal with it as it comes.”