After goofing around with Joe over breakfast, I slipped out of the dining area and made my way back upstairs with a chicken wing in hand. Joe and I usually snuck out of the inn on a good day to watch the Boulders' dance in the square.
Today was one of their showdowns with a rival dance team from Nairobi at the time of the golden sun. That's what we call three o'clock since not everyone can read a clock. By everyone I mean me.

With a couple of hours to kill till then, I took out the journal the missus gave to me and chose to update its content and maybe go back in time even. I picked up my aged pen with refillable ink and started writing. The last time I wrote in this thing was a week ago maybe. Was it Friday or Tuesday now? Eh, whatever.

I started writing about my most recent dreams about ascending mountains, running back to my real father, becoming a princess in a palace where I could have anything I wanted. Far fetched right? Even for plain old Diana. I don't have any ties I know in royalty unless you make references to my grandma's side of the family tied to African kings which are probably dead by now but I dreamt about a palace made of gold and everything I could dream about  anyway. I don't want to live in a mud house.

My writing somehow shifted to the glass eyed stranger from those years back. I dropped the pen in a haste and lay on my back.

"I don't want to remember anything like that right now", I mumbled closing the book. Somehow, every time I remembered my past, he was always a fragment of the picture but I know I never knew him so I didn't understand why he was filling my head along with visions of hiking and tiny evil creatures.

I looked out the circular window and saw the sun changing color.

The Boulders!

I jumped off the bed and put on my shoes and unlocked the window. There was a rope ladder going down to Joe's room from which we would then sneak through the basement to the back of the inn and then the town square.

We got there just in time 'cause everywhere was already abuzz with music pumping from a stereo set. If I had waited any longer before dragging Joe along I might've not gotten a clearing with a great view as the dancers of our town. They had started warming up to a slow pop beat. The crowd was all oohs and ahs as Tim took the floor and began twisting his body in several directions per syllable, pausing at every interlude and change in beat. In the twinkle of an eye, Dustin, his right wing buddy ran up to him with such a force that we were sure he'd get knocked down but instead, his buddy ricocheted off his chest in a back flip throwing them both into Chinese bends. Then the music stopped. The challenge had begun.

The crowd was wild as the opposing  team threw in their first mix. A heavily tattooed trio stepped forward working the reverse of a classic soul mix... I had to hand it to them; if they could do it while moving forward, then Tim and his crew are going to pull out their A game. Like seriously! They then stepped up into a mix of the robot and a complicated foot work I'm not sure I could copy at a glance.

The crowd erupted into a burst of 'whoa, totally awesome' and for the first time, our team was slightly nervous. Trixie stepped forward with Dustin's permission and began to roll left and right, twisting every limb as far as they could go even in the wrong directions. The crowd went silent as they watched her and I saw one of the tattooed guys' jaw drop to the ground. Every other Boulder stepped forward with their own complicated foot works and swinging their hips simultaneously at intervals. I had seen them before when I snuck out with Joe to their dance practice. It was just us two and I learnt how to do the steps on my own in the attic.

But they were seven in number, the formation wasn't so fantastic. One of them couldn't make it today and I knew this was our winning dance so before I knew what I was doing, I started moving my limbs to the steps till everyone stopped and stared at me. The adrenaline pumping didn't let me stop as I took the groove all the way to Trixie and Dustin. They all froze on cue with surprise written on their faces as a I mimicked their dance steps.

Tim looked to the other four and nodded once for them to join in as I began to shuffle with them, flicking my arms out in direction with the others and as they crouched forward on something that looks kind of like the present Tootsie slide as we got up all in the faces of the opposing team and turned around abruptly on a reverse, throwing our hands in the air.

They were transfixed.

We won!

But my joy was when Tim grunted in approval at what I did. I was on top just then but that joy was short lived however as I spotted the missus in the thinning crowd, tapping her left foot with pursed lips and a wrinkle in her brow. I sheepishly went over to her and she nodded her head in the direction of the inn indicating that I was in deep trouble.

She held the inn's door open for me to walk in. I was drenched in sweat and my shoes were dusty from dancing under the sun for so long as I bowed my head and followed her to the kitchen.

Upon arrival at my doom, I muttered a silent prayer to God that He should let me live just a little bit longer and I will change. I would listen to the missus, I would ask before using her shampoo, I would - -

"Diana," she said cutting into my breath prayers, "do you find it funny that I am always searching for you?" I shook my head in response.

"Diana, sweetie, I'm fifty this year. I don't plan on chasing you for a long time after now". She turned to face me, tight lipped and sad, " could you at least be around when I need you most?"

That question threw me completely. When I had needed my family, they weren't there for me. They didn't look for Diana in the storm, they had to just leave me there, when I needed them the most. I took a gulp of air and stared at the floor. The missus probably noticed she hit a nerve and pulled me into a hug. She being a foot and half shorter meant I had to double over.

She started whispering words of comfort until I stopped sobbing and let out a defeated sigh.

"I'm sorry ma'am", I said finally as she patted my back.

When we pulled apart, I managed a tight smile as I scratched the back of my neck. She reached up and removed some loose strands of hair from my face, tucking them into my bandana, "just be careful munchkin", she said to me.

"Ma'am Roselle", someone called from the door. We both whirled around to face Joe. How long had he been there?

"Someone wants to see you at the door", she wore a quizzical look before making her way out. Joe raked his hands through his hair looking flustered as he stared at me, confusion in his eyes.

"Joe what's the matter", I asked perching on a stool next to him. He turned to face me, searching my eyes for the unknown.

"Joe, are–", he planted his hands on my face.

"I - I didn't know you could dance that's all", he lied. And he was bad at it because his eyes kept straying from mine not to mention we always snuck away so I could watch and practice new dance moves I picked up.

Sensing he had been caught, he dropped his hands and opened up.

"I don't know. I just have this feeling we'd never see again", I stared at him like he grew a third head... Where was the second one even?

I was about to burst in hysterical bouts of laughter when I caught his dead serious eyes. At that moment the missus walked in, her face was as white as sheet. I stared at her in alarm. Before I could voice anything, a stranger clad in white clothing. Jacket, pants and even shoes. He looked oddly familiar though in his matching white traveling suit.

I jerked to my feet as I stared at him in shock. It was the glass eyed stranger! What was he doing here?

"It's time Diana" he said calmly as if it was supposed to answer my question.
"I - I don't get it", I stuttered glancing from the missus to Joe to the stranger. With trembling hands, I looked at the etching at the back of the pendant he gave me, it now made sense.

The visions of hiking mountains and crossing rivers came back in a rush. His face was clearer and I picked up the words on his lips, same as that night, 'Its time to go'. My head started spinning as the visions hit me in waves and I let out a piercing scream clutching my head.
Joe rushed to my side in a haste and the missus stood sobbing in her place.
This was too much. The intensity, everything! His presence was overwhelming even from the door.

The etching on the back of the amulet was actually a clock. But rather than tell the time, it's hands were pointing at today's date and there was a very tiny scratch saying 'fourth year after'.

I was actually leaving?

Why?

Where was I going to?

**********

"Diana", Joe called out. I turned to face him with my baggage on my bed. I was teary eyed already. He held his arms open and I rushed into his embrace, letting the tears fall in cascades. I would never see my closest  friend again. I would never see the reincarnation of my grandmother. All because I had to go somewhere I did not even know. I wish I could take them with me. Just in case it was the palace I always dreamed about.

We eventually separated knowing that tears wouldn't change the inevitable. Joe brushed the hairs on my forehead away and pecked me there. His deep blue eyes did all the talking for him, be safe, then he handed me a phone. Not like a smartphone though. The ones that break the floor when they fall instead of the other way around.

I stuffed it into my duffel bag before hugging him again.
"I'll miss you", I said into his chest, afraid to raise my voice any higher for fear of crying again. I raised my head to see glass eyes looking at me in sympathy and a mixture of something else I couldn't quite place. He then motioned for me to meet him downstairs.
Joe pulled back again and failed to meet my eyes this time.

"I'll miss you too".

I looked myself over again in my makeshift mirror, scanning my boots and leaf green top then at my black leather fitted jeans that had a thicker lining on the inside. I doubted it would wear anytime soon. Shrugging on a jacket and slinging my bag over my shoulder, I made my way downstairs with Joe, but not before attempting one last glance at my room and switching off the lights.

Chapter closed.