Khora stared at the door as it closed silently, the footsteps of her world fading down the hallway. Gone. He was gone. Things had been going well, or so she had thought. Closing her eyes, Khora counted down from five, hoping to calm her nerves and stall the tears from falling. Five. He had stopped saying "I love you" as fast as he had first said it. Four. They had taken a trip together the previous week where he had poured out his true feelings of her actions taking her aback and hurting her deeply. Three. He had kissed her only a few days before, but hid the truth deep down that he was no longer there. Two. He had left, then came back to end it because he couldn't do it anymore. He couldn't be with her anymore. One. The person who she had imagined her future with was now gone as her world shattered around her as it faded into nothing but broken memories and heartbreak. She slumped against the door gently banging the back of her head against it begging her mind to find any scrap of memory where she could have sensed her relationship was failing, where it was no longer there. The empty kitchen stared back at her offering her no answers that she longed to grasp from the thin air or from the dark recesses of her mind. A buzzing sound pulled her from the vague memories that danced around in faint shadows, but failed to materialize in her mind.

"Hello?" she sighed as she rubbed her temples to help calm the headache that was lurking in the darkness waiting to pounce on her like a tiger stalking its prey.

"Khora? I haven't heard from you in ages! Are you alright? You sound like something happened."

"I'm fine," she sighed through her teeth, silently begging that Caitríona wouldn't try to pry her open with multiple questions until Khora finally spilled everything, at least not at this point in time while she still processed things. "How are you Caitríona?"

Khora pulled the phone away from her ear as Caitríona started talking loudly about her life, her issues, and the always falling short of her family's expectations that seemed to come up every time they spoke. She could still hear the muffled sound coming from her phone as she glanced around the kitchen for the red tea kettle her dad had bought her as a present. It had been moved by someone who didn't want it kept on the burner as it was clutter. Even though it was sentimental to her, she obliged and hid it away in the back of the cabinet to keep the peace and make them happy with the cleanliness of the top of the stove. Khora bristled at the memory that popped up, but she suppressed it as she rifled through the cabinet only to find it pinned behind the miscellaneous pots and pans that were stashed there. Mumbling and grumbling about how it could have been sitting on the stove this whole time like a normal person would do, Khora placed the phone on the counter as Caitríona rattled on about some guy who had the nerve to dump her over text, and pulled the kettle out rattling a few of the pots around.

"What was that noise?" Caitríona paused in the middle of her tirade about how she deserved the common decency of being broken up with over a phone call or face to face.

"Don't worry about it. Continue with your story," Khora put the kettle on the stove to heat water up for peppermint tea and pinned the phone to her ear so she could chime in every now and again with a "Mhmm" or a "You are right" to keep Caitríona talking about her problems so Khora could ignore her own that seemed to be continually building up as the year went.

"—and I can't believe that Aunt Milly had the nerve to say that to me. I am not some two-bit hussy! I am classy and— "

"Smart, kind, and generous are also excellent words to add in there Cait," Khora stated as she pulled the tea bag from the cup. Tears were welling in the corner of her eyes, but she pushed them back and closed the imaginary door that held them in, willing for it to stay shut for the time being. There was silence on the other side of the line as something seemed to shine a light to Cait of what was happening in her dear friend's life.

Caitríona whispered, "Khora...what happened? You are listening but not really. You aren't giving the normal Khora advice I have come to know and love with every ounce of my soul."

Her fingers gripped the spoon that she had been using to stir the almond milk into the tea with. The words seemed to get stuck in her throat as if her heart hadn't caught up with her mind. Her mind was slowly accepting it while her heart was leagues behind as it tried to piece together and process the very thing that shattered it. Hard as she tried, the words wouldn't come out as if they refused to be spoken because once they were, they would become real.

"Khora, are you okay?"

"No," she choked as the doors opened and the tears started again. She held her phone close to her ear as she wept uncontrollably into the microphone. Caitríona remained silent allowing Khora to cry in silence. They remained that way for over 15 minutes, one end grieving their life crumbling in their hands and the other listening from a distance wishing they were there to comfort their friend with a gentle hug and a shoulder for them to cry on instead of the kitchen floor. Khora finally caught her breath, her tea now lukewarm sitting on the ledge.

"He's gone Cait. He said it was him and that he couldn't do it anymore," she choked out, "He walked away from me and he took my heart with him. I," Khora paused and took a wheezy breath trying to bring the breath back into her lungs, "He is gone and he is not coming back ever again."

"Oh Khora. I am so sorry honey. He was never good enough for you, but that's beside the point. He was your world, but you weren't his. You deserve so much better than him. You deserve a man who will love you in your entirety and embrace you for who you are, not who they want you to be or become. Listen, I can't fly down there right now because I am stuck in all these stupid meetings, but I have something that mght help in the mean time until I can get away from this place."

Khora chuckled through the tears as she imagined her friend rolling her eyes with her feet up on her desk drinking a glass of wine after a long day of working in the corporate world. Caitríona was always travelling to different places, but made time to call to make sure that Khora was hanging in there. It was a promise that they made to each other when they graduated college that no matter where they were in the world, that they would always call in to check in with one another: one unique name to another.

"Do you remember that cabin I took you to a long time ago?"

"The one right after college graduation where you pushed me into the lake?"

Caitríona laughed darkly as she recalled that memory from long ago. "Yes. That is the cabin I am talking about. I always leave the key in the little gnome's hat on the right side of the door. A weird habit, I know, but hey it works because people are scared of them, or so I think so, or maybe they aren't anymore. Anyway, that is beside the point."

Khora imagined Caitríona waving her hand in the air in a small circle as if to emphasize that she was getting sidetracked from her main purpose. "I want you to drive up there and spend as much time up there as you need. There is also some money stashed in the freezer in one of the veggie bags. It is definitely the only vegetable bag in the freezer since I haven't been up there in ages, so it shouldn't be too hard to find."

"Because people don't like their vegetables?"

"Exactly. People don't like them. So, pack your bags and I will text you the address. In fact, pack all your things if you want to and move up there. I will fund this trip because Khora, you deserve the world. Go find yourself up there."

Khora found herself on the verge of tears once again, "Thank you," she whispered. Her heart was filled with the love from her best friend. It was like a balm that was put on her cracked heart: not enough to heal the deep, painful fissures that were still bleeding, but enough to numb the pain to the truth at present.

"Anytime Khora. You're my best friend. I need to take care of you. I got to go, I have a meeting in a little bit and I need to grab some coffee to revive my dark soul into a little bit lighter and happier one. I'll send you the address and I expect you to be in the car and driving there within the next two hours. Bye Khora, remember you are so loved and that you deserve the universe, not just the world."

Khora dumped the cold tea into the sink as the lurking headache disappeared into the mist, not ready to make an appearance, "Bye Cait, go kick some butt and don't let them stomp out your shine."

"I will and I won't." The phone beeped as the line disconnected. Khora stared at the screen of her phone as a message popped up from Caitríona with the address from the cabin. A ghost of a smile graced her lips. She quickly cleaned the mug and placed it in the drying rack with her mind racing of what she needed to pack. Khora grabbed her duffel bag and filled it with all the clothes she could physically stuff into the crevices of it before zipping it shut. Khora tossed the few toiletry items she needed into the backpack that sat wide open on the bed as well as some snacks and a bottle of wine. Glancing around the room, she could see the traces of where he was or where he had been. Pictures hung on the wall with him smiling back at her. Khora took a step closer to see if the smile reached his eyes or if he was just pretending. How much of it had been pretend? How much of it had been real? She no longer knew.

Khora gently touched the picture as if willing it to take her back in time to that moment when things were right and she was happy, but she remained in place with no way of being transported to that time ever again. She chucked the picture into an empty drawer and slammed it shut giving her only the smallest bit of satisfaction. Grabbing her bags, she glanced around her apartment one last time before she walked out the door, locking the traces of him behind until she was ready to face those demons as a new person and with a sense of clarity. Khora took the stairs down to the garage where her little car sat ready to take her on her new adventure. It was time to go to the cabin and find who she was without him and who she wanted to be and who she was to become.

Did she want to become an independent individual who never relied on anyone? Maybe, but she was going to take the time and silence of the wooded lake cabin to find out just what she do with the life she had in front of her. She turned the key in the ignition, texted Caitríona her thanks, and slid out of the garage not looking back to her old life but rather looking towards the beginning of her new life. It was time for her to begin again. Time to pick up the pieces of what she now needed to consider her past, and move forward towards the bright future that awaited her arrival with open arms.

The time in the car was swift, yet endless. The surrounding farmland transformed into hills which then morphed into giant mountains densely covered with pine trees, cedar trees, and oaks growing up towards the bright sun as continued on her drive. The sky's colors changed from bright blue with few clouds to a stunning sunset filled with orange, purple, and pink swirls that floated gracefully by the car windows. Sweet and gentle music filled the car's speakers as she continued the climb in elevation to Cait's cabin. Not once did he enter her mind during the seven hour drive, as she had secured all thoughts of him into a neat and tidy box in the back of her mind waiting to be opened on a different day when she was ready to face those inner demons. As she pulled into the paved driveway, Khora sighed deeply and placed the car in park. The charming cabin, with a porch covered in climbing roses, seemed to welcome her as the big, tall windows welcomed in the morning sun and the fading day: openly and warmly. With swift movements, Khora grabbed her belongings and headed towards the gnome that sat on the right side of the front door.

"Ugh. Cait is right. No one should like gnomes," she stated as she looked around warily hoping that it wouldn't suddenly become animated and attack her for cursing its chipping paint look. She slid the key into the door and pushed her way inside taking her bags with her, leaving the weathered looking gnome outside to continue guarding the house from gnome-fearing intruders.

The entryway opened into the great room, or living room as many people call it, and the kitchen, which was always flooded with natural light from the big bay windows that sat opposite and to the right of the front door. To the left were the two guest bedrooms, the laundry room, and the bathroom for the main floor. Khora always admired the open feeling of the cabin as the vaulted ceilings gave it that extra feeling of being spacious yet cozy. She went around to the stairs that were on her right and climbed them up towards the loft and master bedroom where she decided that she was going to stay to enjoy the California King bed. As she ascended the stairs, the sun began its final descent behind the trees, giving off one last breath before it dipped behind the mountains covering the cabin in starlit darkness.

"I can't do this anymore Khora," he blurted out as he stared at his shoes. "It's not you, it's me. Things have been bugging me and I just can't do this. I can't be with you anymore." 

Khora stared at him with a blank expression as so many thoughts, questions, and alarms ran rampant throughout her brain. Where did this come from? Weren't they just talking about the future? "It's okay," she managed to choke out. She reached into the laundry basket and pulled out the shirt, his shirt that he had just given her, to hand back to him. "You'll need this back. We can still be friends."

"Sure..." he walked back towards the door, opened it, and walked through it. "Goodbye Khora, I wish you the best."

Khora's eyes snapped open, the assault of memories stopped as she stared out the window at the faint sunlight that peeked out from behind the tall pine trees. Groaning from being awoken so early, she swung her feet onto the ground and headed downstairs to the kitchen to grab some water in hopes that it would abate the demons of the past from plaguing her dreams. As she grabbed a glass from the cabinet a small clink caught her attention. A key had fallen from the cabinet onto the white quartz counters catching the faint sunlight that was shining through the windows of the great room. Its handle had an intricate pattern of a doe in front of a dragon emblazoned on it with what looked like diamonds encrusted in it.

Fancy. Khora picked it up and twisted it around allowing the sun's rays to glint off of the stones casting tiny fragmented lights throughout the room. She cocked her head to the side to read the cursive inscription on the rod of the key: sun and star. Not knowing what they key went to, she set it back down on the counter and started to make herself a cup of coffee to wake herself up. There was no point in trying to go back to sleep when he lurked in the box waiting for her to subconsciously open it. Instead, she changed as the coffee brewed, filling the house with a warm aroma of vanilla and cinnamon.

The deck offered a perfect view of the lake surrounded by trees, wildflowers, and berry bushes as far as the eyes could see. Sounds of birds filled the crisp morning air as they swooped down to find food for their chicks. Insects buzzed back and forth as they dipped onto the lake and off it once they had their fill of water. Khora breathed in the mountain air as it mixed with the coffee's aroma. Her phone buzzed with a text message from Cait mostly telling her that she hoped that Khora had found the cabin, was doing okay, and to spend all the money left in the veggie bag. Khora chuckled as she keyed back a quick response to her best friend and pocketed the phone, bumping into something hard into her pocket.

"What on earth?" Khora pulled out the key that she had sworn she had left on the ledge. She held it up, once again, to the light allowing for the sun's rays to caress it, warming the metal in her hand. The light bounced off the key and landed on a crowded patch of ivy and flowers. She turned the key again in the light, yet the light remained on that one patch as if it belonged to that place. Leaving her cup of coffee on the deck's railing, she climbed down the stairs to the overgrown ivy that upon further inspection, was harboring a secret: a rusted iron gate. She placed her hand on the ivy pulling it away from its placement. Khora sucked in a breath. The gate had the same intricate design as the key with the dragon's stare remaining icy and cold, while the doe's eyes offered warm sympathy. Flowers sprouted along the two figurines, crossing and uncrossing as if to say that there was no right way, only an intertwined path and choices to make. Khora silently slipped the key into the lock and turned it amazed at how quietly it turned. She had expected a loud grating noise but instead was greeted with a well-oiled turn of the key.

The gate opened allowing for Khora to look through the doorway where silence greeted her as branches waved in the wind. A small, cool breeze danced through her hair as she took a step forward entering into the quiet forest beyond the gate. Her curiosity urged her forward while her rationality cautioned her to turn back around and head towards the deck. Her curiosity got the best of her as she continued forward into the gated path. The cool breeze grew stronger until it was a strong, cold wind whipping around her. In a brief moment, the wind turned to a chilly winter blast and snow swirled around her feet and then fell coating the ground in whiteness. Khora stopped in her tracks and looked around, ignoring the numb feeling that was traveling up into her feet. Trapped between towering mountains, the path forward was surrounded by trees that were dusted with powdered snow and small flowers poked through the winter ground as if they were inviting spring to come sooner rather than later, but their hopes would be dashed most likely. It was a winter wonderland. But how could that be? The cabin was firmly entrapped in summer with no sight of reprieve from the heat as it baked in the 80 degree heat.

Curious. Holding her hand out, she caught one of the drifting snowflakes that fell from the clouded, grey sky above. Khora smiled as it touched her palm with a feathery, lightness slowly melting into the warmth of her hand. The peace was welcoming but also unnerving as the silence permeated everything. Taking one last deep breath of the winter air, Khora turned around to head back through the gate. Maybe it turns into different seasons with each new time you enter or maybe it travels forward in time. Different scenarios ran through Khora's mind as she trekked back down the path to where the gate was waiting, or so she thought. The path should have stopped and crossed back into the summer warmth, instead it continued into a hazardous path that scaled the mountain. Khora paused, looked around, and then finally at the ground where her footsteps had first started. The gate that was once there was gone. It vanished as if it had never been there in the first place. With the intricate gate nowhere to be seen, it meant one thing, Khora was stuck in this strange place with no way to return back home. 

A/N HELLO! Leave some love in the form of votes, comments, and thoughts!