Ellie was back at the large obelisk tombstone she had leaned against earlier that day. She began looking around, trying to remember the direction in which she had arrived. She just couldn’t figure out why she was so turned around. The grave markers she was looking at didn’t seem familiar to her. She began walking to the other side of the cemetery, determined to find the entry she had seen before this ordeal began.

“Where is it?!” She said, so loud she almost yelled it. She was now on the other side of the cemetery, with no arched entryway in site. She was about to give up hope when she heard someone whistling.

“Excuse me?” She said to the kindly old man who was leaning over a small tombstone that simply read “Nancy Murphy”.

“Well, howdy!” He replied.

“I’m wondering if you can help me.” She stated, at the same time realizing that this man seemed a bit oddly dressed, as well.

“If I can I will.” He replied with a large, cheerful grin.

“I can’t seem to find the other entrance to the cemetery. I know there was another entrance because I came in through it earlier today. It has a large archway…oh, and outside the entrance is a cute little house that has fallen in to disrepair. Do you know where I mean?” Ellie hoped the man could help her find the entrance she was looking for.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but the only entrance to this cemetery is right over there.” He said, pointing to the entrance Sarah was sure wasn’t the one she used before. Frustrated , Ellie decided to sit and rest a minute to try and gather her thoughts.

“Is this your wife?” Ellie asked as she pointed to the tombstone the old gentleman had been tending.

“Yes, my sweet Nancy. She passed away some time back. I miss her something awful.” He said with a tear in his eye.

“I’m so sorry.” Was all Ellie could say.

“We started this cemetery a long time ago, Nancy and me. We gave this here land and Nancy named it Cedar Hill, for all the Cedar trees lining the back of the land.” William stated with pride. It was a beautiful place, Ellie realized.

Just then, they heard the sounds of a horse galloping in their direction. Ellie looked up to find William coming toward her. Ellie was too tired to run, and too confused to care.

“Hi Dad.” William said to the old man Ellie had just met.

“Hello Son. I was just talking to this nice young lady here.” Replied the old man.

“Hi Ellie. Is everything ok? You had Sarah worried when she found you had disappeared without saying goodbye.” William said to Ellie.

Ellie explained to William that she wanted to get back over to the cemetery to find her father. She told him about meeting him at the cemetery and how he hadn’t arrived when she thought he would. She left out all mention of cars and telephones. William understood Ellie’s situation and offered to help her find her father the following morning. The threesome walked toward the home of William and Sarah and the old gentleman introduced himself to Ellie as Felix, William’s father, Sarah’s father-in-law and grandpa to little Johnny.

A little while later, as Ellie was preparing herself for bed, Sarah knocked on the bedroom door.

“Come in.” Called Ellie.

“I don’t mean to bother you, I just wanted to bring you something to sleep in. Are you finding everything you need?” Sarah asked, still concerned for this woman who seemed so fragile.

“Yes, thank you. I’m not very sleepy yet, though. My mind is still racing from everything that has happened.” Ellie responded.

“Would you like for me to sit up with you for a while? I don’t mind, really. My family has always liked to stay up late.” Sarah giggled.

“Night owls, huh?” Ellie replied.

“What? Yes, I guess so.” Sarah laughed a little louder this time.

“Sarah, have you ever felt that you’re in a place you don’t belong, but you aren’t sure how to get back?” Ellie asked.

“Do you mean this literally?” asked Sarah.

“Figuratively speaking, of course.” Ellie lied.

“Just follow your heart, Ellie. It’ll get you home.” Sarah stated, matter-of-factly.

Ellie decided not to pursue this topic with Sarah. She was a little worried that Sarah might begin to think she was crazy. Lord knows Ellie was beginning to believe it herself.

“What a pretty hand mirror. Where did you get it?” Ellie asked Sarah as she admired the beautiful marble and silver hand mirror that had been on the vanity table.

“It was a gift from my mother, just before she died. There is an inscription, but you have to look very close.” Sarah said as she pointed to the tiny inscription on the inside of the handle of the mirror. It said simply; SD, love mother.

“SD? Your initials?” Ellie asked.

“Yes, my maiden name is Dickson. I bought a brush to match and had it engraved SM, to include my married name of Murphy.” Sarah replied. Ellie’s head was spinning. Sarah Dickson? Sarah Murphy? William and Sarah, the people who had taken her in were actually William and Sarah Murphy? Ellie’s mind was going back and forth from believing this truly was the family she had been searching for and old grandpa Murphy was now a little 6-year-old sleeping in a nearby room, to feeling that it all must be a coincidence.

“Well, I shouldn’t keep you any longer. You still look so pale. Please try and sleep. You’ll be back with your father in the morning, I’m sure of it.” Sarah said as she walked quietly from the room.

Ellie’s mind was racing. Felix Murphy, William Murphy, Sarah Dickson and little Johnny. There was just too much to be a coincidence. First thing in the morning, Ellie would ask many questions of these people. She didn’t know how she got there, but she was going to take full advantage of the situation. She wanted to know about Sarah’s family, who has been impossible to find. She wanted to know about Nancy, when she died, what her maiden name was. Most of all, she wanted to know what kind of people they all were. Their hopes and dreams were important to Ellie.

There was one heartbreaking detail that made Ellie shoot straight up in bed that night. Sarah wouldn’t have the large family she always hoped for and William would lose the woman he loves. Sarah wouldn’t survive the birth of the baby she was carrying. That baby would be the girl she had hoped for. Her name would be Lavonia.

Ellie finally fell into a deep sleep, so deep that she didn’t even dream. Ellie woke to a bright and blinding light, a dog barking and someone saying “Ellie, wake up”. It was her dad! Ellie jumped up, rubbed the sleep from her eyes and realized she was outside and it was broad daylight. She looked around her and recognized the obelisk tombstone. In the distance she saw the archway at the entrance to the cemetery.

“Are you ok, Ellie?” Asked her father.

“I think so. I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?” She asked.

“I’m only ten minutes late.” Her dad chuckled.

Ten minutes late? She had been asleep only about twenty minutes? Ellie stood still for a few minutes, stretched, then began walking the cemetery with her dad. Unsure of what had just happened to her, she was afraid to tell him of her journey.

*********

A few days later, Ellie arrived home from her trip. She began looking over all of her papers, documents and memorabilia. She wished she had something to remember her ancestors by. She remembered purchasing an old mirror and brush set at an antique auction some time back and that it looked a bit like the one she had seen in her dream. She pulled out her old mirror and looked at herself. Casually, she caressed the handle of the mirror, wishing beyond reason that this could be the same mirror and brush that had belonged to Sarah. There on the handle of the old mirror was; SD, love Mother. Ellie was shocked. She took out the brush and found the initials SM engraved on its handle.

Had Ellie really been sleeping or did she travel back in time to a place she had so yearned to be? Did she only dream this because she had noticed the initials on the mirror and brush set, or was this a message from her great-great grandmother Sarah? Ellie likes to think it was a message from her long gone ancestors.

————–

The End