Jerryl was tall and lanky, always tripping over things, shy around other kids, and always daydreaming. He imagined his life differently at times; as a great knight in the king's service, or a powerful mage protecting the kingdom from unknown dangers. His mother worked very hard as a seamstress in order to provide a comfortable, yet small and meager home. Jerryl's room had a small window that looked out upon the city, the castle filling its frame. He would stare at it in the distance as he fell asleep each night and wonder what it must be like live there. He dreamed of his father, and who he may be.
It was late one night during winter season, Jerryl was trapped inside while a blizzard howled outside. He couldn't fall asleep; it was close to midnight. Tree branches scratched against the window as the storm blew.
He suddenly heard a whisper on the wind, “Jerryl.”
“What was that?”, Jerryl sat up, shivering with a chill and listened intently as the storm continued to howl.
After twenty more minutes, Jerryl climbed out of bed and walked over to the small window, he could barely see past the frame. The swirling snow was mesmerizing. He looked down for a moment, for some reason he started thinking about his father, who he may be, why he left...
“ Jerryl.”
He turned back to the window; the storm stopped abruptly.
“ Jerryl.”
“What the hell?” He knew he wasn't imagining the voice.
Turning back to the window the clouds quickly dissipated and a full moon revealed itself. The landscape sparkled in the moonlight. Excitement suddenly spread throughout his body; he had to get outside. He pulled on some warmer clothes and slowly opened his bedroom door sneaking into the hallway. He did not want to wake his mother. He tiptoed down the hall, floorboards creaking, and into the small kitchen. He stopped for a moment to be sure he had not been heard. After he was sure his mother was still asleep he snuck to the back door. He put on his winter coat and boots. All bundled up, he unlocked the back door and stepped outside.
Jerryl's feet sunk into the soft snow. He took a deep breath of the crisp, cold air; condensation filled the air in front of him. His lungs felt alive! The night was still, with diamond snow as far as he could see. Jerryl felt a pull in his chest and headed into the woods near the house. He came to a small clearing, bare of snowfall. The moon filled the space with bright radiance.
A pulsing blue glow on the ground caught his eye. Looking down he saw a number of objects that appeared to be small rocks, but they couldn’t be. As he bent down to pick one up, the pounding of his heart increased. Immediately he felt warmth flow through his body.
“I must be dreaming!” He said aloud.
Compelled to gather the objects, he filled his pockets. His body grew warmer and calmer, his heartbeat slowed. He returned home, sneaking back to his room. Finding a small wood box, he emptied his pockets; the blue glow pulsed. Jerryl was suddenly so tired and slumped back into bed, in seconds he was in a deep sleep.
He awoke the next morning feeling more refreshed and alive than he ever had in his life. On the stool next to his bed rested the wooden box, full of the objects he found last night; it hadn’t been a dream. They pulsed together as if they had a joined heartbeat. A low humming sound suddenly filled his room, it seemed to penetrate his entire body. The objects began to softly vibrate and shake within the box. Before his eyes, they floated up, filling the space in front of him. An outline of a person formed, connected by the glow within each object. The light intensified and filled the room, he shielded his eyes.
“Son," a voice spoke from the light.
Jerryl opened his eyes and the glowing form of a man stood before him. He was dressed as no man Jerryl had ever seen, floating a few inches above the floor. He was dressed in fantastic, colorful robes, with a staff in one hand. He immediately knew who this man was, even though he had never seen him his entire life.
“Son,” the man reached out his hand. Jerryl his own hand and placed it into his; he was real!
“Father!” Jerryl fell into his arms. He wrapped him in his glow and held him.
“Son, I am so sorry I had to leave you, just know I left to keep you and your mother safe. Fate has allowed me to find a way to return to you this morning. I want you to know how much I love you and how much I've missed you.”
“Father, I've missed you so much.” Jerryl whispered as he looked down to the floor, tears filling his eyes.
“Jerryl, look at me.” His father put his hand beneath his chin and lifted his face.
“You must know I have never left you, and never will leave you. I understand this is difficult for you to comprehend, but I have always been here.” He said. "All will be revealed shortly. But first, I have a gift for you, a gift that will forever change your life."
The glow around him grew brighter, Jerryl felt the touch of his fathers embrace loosen as he reached into his robes. As his father withdrew his hand, he held a ring out to Jerryl. Examining it closely, he noticed it glowed with a faint blue light; made from a metal he had never seen before. He slid the ring onto his finger and immediately felt strength fill him — he sensed the presence of all things around him. It felt amazing!
"Your journey is just beginning son, but you will never have to be alone now." Looking down at the ring, then up again at his father, he rushed back to his arms to hug him.
"Now let's go wake your mother," he said.
Jerryl smiled with excitement and shook his head in agreement. Laughing with joy, he took as fathers hand realizing nothing after today would ever be the same again. His own adventure awaited him, and no day had ever looked brighter.
And they all lived happily ever after...
I like that you incorporated a picture! Pictures always make stories better.
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