The Way Home

It bathed them. Blinded them. The ominous green light poured and hovered over their city like a quivering swath of storm clouds, waiting to erupt in thunderous spouts of water and blasts of electricity. It seemed as though everyone had come out of their homes to stare up at this mysterious sky. Their faces showed wide ranges of emotion; for some it was sheer terror, others a mild concern and curiosity, and still more who could only gape in wonder, seemingly entirely captivated, unable to do anything but stare eyes and mouths wide. Almost as if they were trying to drink it in. Some of the smaller children were crying, uncomforted by enthralled parents.

Sara held her little sister Jessica’s hand. They had come out into the night before almost anyone, catching the first waves of light rushing in. Their parents were out of town, and Sara, now 15 and old enough to be responsible had been left in charge. On this Friday night, she decided she and Jessica were going to have their own special girls night, just the two of them. She was making popcorn in the kitchen while Jessica sat two feet in front of the giant TV with freshly painted nails and her face covered in some goop Sara had told her the big girls use to pamper themselves. While the kernels popped away in the microwave, Sara saw an initial flash of green light across the sky over the northern side of town. It caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She crossed over to their large dining room window just in time to see another flash of green, this time coming from the south. Sara peered out the window as three more flashes burst in the sky from all directions, wondering in amazement what it was and how each flash seemed to stay hovering in the sky after the initial strike.

“Jessica!! Jessie come quick!!” She called to her sister loud enough to overwhelm the sound of the roaring TV. The little girl came trotting along to the kitchen, teddy bear tucked neatly under her arm so as not to ruin her the polish Sara had so carefully applied to her nails.

“What is it sissy??” Jessica had noticed the bright green hue gracing her sisters face through the window.

“I don’t know. Let’s go outside and take a look, shall we?” Jessie nodded, and grabbed her sisters hand as she led her outside. She never let go of sissy’s hand when they went outside.

Both of them stood in their front yard gazing up at the sky as it slowly filled entirely with this strange green light. It was some time before any of their neighbors seemed to notice and come out as well, thought they hadn’t taken any notice. Something about that light was…profound. They found themselves completely enraptured, not a thought in the world of anything but this magical green light. _Anything this beautiful must be magic_ Sara thought dimly. Even her minds own voice had become nothing but a whisper.

Suddenly a blinding shriek pierced the air from somewhere in the crowd. Sara’s gaze snapped toward the sound, her attention finally broken from the dazzling mystery hanging over their heads. At first she wasn’t sure the exact direction of the scream, until the wave of people around the voice began to cry out as well. She saw about a block over, a woman madly clutching at a child’s hand as they drifted higher into the air. The child was still staring blankly into the green light, his whole face lit up in such brilliance he appeared to be glowing. Those who had been standing around them were also clamoring for the child, trying to raise the mother up to get a better grip on her son.

Sara stood frozen to the spot, not sure what she was seeing. Soon, a gradual swarm of cries began all around her as the youngest of the sky watchers all began to float into the air. Parents who hadn’t been holding their children’s hands were suddenly rushing and jumping to try and catch hold of them, nearly always missing. Strange human pyramids were forming as friends and neighbors lifted each other up on backs and shoulders in an attempt to gain any grip on the children. She remained stunned and unable to move or process what was happening, when she felt her own arm with her sisters tiny hand folded in hers begin to rise. When she looked back towards her sister she could see her feet leave the ground, her face turned upwards with eyes fixed on the lights.

“Jessie!” She screamed. Jessie didn’t look back. She didn’t even flinch, no longer hearing her sisters voice. “Jessie!! Don’t let go of my hand!!” The force that was pulling her sister into the sky grew stronger, and she felt herself bearing down to keep her own feet planted on the ground. Sara looked around with wild panic, shouting for someone to help her. Tears were streaming down her face. “JESSIE!”

Finally her sister turned toward her. Her face calm and serene. There was no fear or even curiosity in her expression anymore. “It’s ok sissy,” she smiled. “We’re going home now.”