Notopia Read online

  What a sad tale, Gwen thought, that so much love and promise could be wiped out by a single heartless act of cruelty.

  Gwen then watched an old movie, “Bell, Book, and Candle” and this time love won the day, but through the movie and the reading, she never once felt the presence of any visions. It was late, and she was certain that Delilah had shared her story with Paul by now. She thought about calling him, as she was anxious for his take on all this. Paul was often very insightful and frank about matters but decided to wait until tomorrow.

  She looked through the window and could not help but recall the view of the valley she had seen in her vision. It was a lovely place, so full of mystery and intrigue that she wanted desperately to solve. Sleep was next on the agenda. Brushing her teeth, she wondered how she could recreate the mindset that brought on the visions. There must be a process or a key thought, or perhaps some combination of faith and meditation that ignited them, but nothing came to her. One last hope entered her mind as she exited the bathroom into the hallway. She closed her eyes, envisioning blank picture frames on the wall. Opening her eyes, she saw herself and a cousin seated on the pony ride at the county fair some 20 years ago. I guess tonight it is not to be.

  Gwen slept on her side with the window cracked open for fresh air, snuggling between the sheets under a large quilt. She often watched TV in bed, but tonight, she was anxious to fall asleep and try to find a way into that place again tomorrow.

  ***

  The distinctive neon blue light flashed outside her window. She instantly knew where she was. Bolting from the bed, she nearly landed flat on the floor, forgetting the canopy bed was a good six inches higher than her real-life bed. Only her grip around the bedpost saved her. Reaching the window, she could see a gentleman standing there, alone. She opened the window and hollered toward him. “Did you see it? The blue lightning, did you see it?”

  He gazed up at her and replied. “Of course, I did, I told her that she wasn’t mine.”

  “She wasn’t yours? I don’t understand, what do you mean she wasn’t yours?”

  “You must be new,” the man said.

  “Yes, yes. I am new, I am very new,” Gwen hollered back. “Please, can you tell me where I am? What is this place? Please step inside, and I will put on some coffee for us. Do you like coffee? Or tea?” Gwen realized she knew that there was coffee, bread, and butter in the kitchen, but whatever else might be there, she had no idea. “I’m coming down!”

  She tried furiously to slip into her bathrobe and race down the stairs simultaneously, for she couldn’t lose a moment. She was not about to let this guy get away. She flipped on the porch light and flung the door open expecting to have to run out and chase him down, but he was there on the doorstep.

  He looked to be near her age, tall, and with a kind face, a strong jaw, and a sharp nose. She thought she could detect a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Come in, please. I’m Gwen. I have been dying to meet someone here.”

  “Good evening Gwen. My name is Leo, Leo Trasker. It appears the blue fire awoke you. I’m afraid that’s my fault.”

  She grabbed him by the arm and tugged him inside. “Come in, please. Have some coffee and tell me about what just happened.”

  Gwen pulled out a chair at the kitchen table for Leo. “Sit. I will get your coffee. Black, cream, or sugar?”.

  “Black, thank you,” Leo replied.

  “So, tell me what just happened Leo. What is that blue lightning and where exactly are we?”

  “Ah, you are very new, Gwen. That blue lightning, as you call it, is referred to as blue fire. It was a dream I thought was mine and now it’s dead. Now I know why she was so insistent on going for a stroll. She probably hoped the skyline would make our talk more inviting, but she wasn’t my dream. I expect the fire department will be here soon.”

  “Blue fire? Fire department? Dead dream?” Gwen was very frustrated now. It seemed every time she got an answer it only served to create more questions. “I’m sorry Leo, I don’t understand anything you are talking about.”

  In the distance, Gwen could hear sirens coming from emergency vehicles.

  “That will be the fire department,” said Leo. “I will go tell them what happened and then come back and help you understand. It won’t take long.” With that Leo got up and proceeded outside.

  Gwen watched from her doorstep as Leo talked with the firemen, who were taking notes and seemed to be sweeping something up off the ground. Making out everything under the street light shadows was difficult. One gentleman in a suit looked to be observing. Gwen figured him for the supervisor. Leo was right; it didn’t take long, and she could see him walking back toward her.

  “Is everything ok? You seem a bit upset,” Gwen said as they made their way back to the kitchen.

  “I’m fine, Gwen, thank you though, but I’m sure this is all quite distressing to you. How many times have you been here Gwen?” Leo said.

  “Three, I think. Maybe four, and exactly where is here?”

  “This place is called Notopia. It is where your mind comes to find its dreams, Gwen.” Leo paused to let that sink in as he remembered how hard this was for him. “Your dreams in life. Your aspirations of happiness.”

  Gwen thought for a moment and sat quietly.

  “Gwen, relax and imagine for a moment that there is a place that people go to find their dreams and imagine that those dreams take the form of a person. That place is called Notopia. In Notopia, there are hundreds of people looking for dreams and hundreds of dreams looking for people. You are in Notopia right now, Gwen, and while your subconscious mind is here, you are physically still operating in real life. When your subconscious mind returns you to reality, you will be right where you left it. You see, no matter how long you are here, there is no effect on your timeline in reality.”

  “So, this is all a dream. A dream I revisit?”

  “No, Gwen. This place is very real. It is another reality that not everyone experiences. I don’t know how or why some are here and others not. It is a very complex place. You asked about the blue fire or lightning. First, you and I are seekers, and we are seeking dreams. Outside, just now, I was talking to one of the dreams. That particular dream was committed to me, but it was not the dream I was after. When that realization takes place, the dream can die, and when a dream dies, the blue fire consumes the dream, and it flashes into the sky.”

  “Are you trying to tell me this is all real and a dream at the same time?”

  “It is, Gwen. I know this is a lot to take in, but the sooner you accept it, the better off you will be. It took me months to get my head around it all, and I was fortunate to find someone to help me. Still to this day I have doubts.” Leo could see his new friend was confused. “How about that coffee, is it ready?”

  “Yes, yes, of course. I’m sorry, I forgot.” Gwen put two cups out and poured. “I’m afraid I don’t have anything to go with it. So, who was this friend?”

  “That’s fine. He was a nice fellow who found his dream and doesn’t come anymore.” Leo felt it best to let her think and to let her ask the next question.

  “You said it took you months. Just how long have you been coming here?”

  “At best I figure almost three years.”

  Gwen gasped. “Three years! I would go crazy! In just the last few days this place has consumed me.”

  “Gwen, some do go crazy, and I hope that doesn’t happen to you. I was consumed for a time as well, but I eventually learned that the real world was separate. In fact, I never know when I am going to be here. I feel so at ease here that it never bothers me to move back and forth. Many things are much more pleasant here than in real life.”

  “Yes, at ease is a good way to say it. I am also at ease here. However, this idea of a new dimension of consciousness troubles me. Why? What is the purpose?”

  “It’s not so strange when you think about it. Some people get premonitions; others have what we call the sixth sen
se. Some people see ghosts, demons, and fairies, while others can make people laugh. We all have a variety of mental skills just like we have various physical skills, and those skills get manifested in ways we have yet to imagine. Throughout history, people have used these skills for good and not so good, and for those of us who can’t tap into these skills, we write them off as personality traits, God-given talents, or evil deeds. I think the purpose of this place is for you to find your dream. It must be here, somewhere, or it is going to arrive soon.”

  “So, the rainbows are how the new arrivals get here. At last, something made sense, well, sort of anyway.”

  “Yes, you have seen them then?”

  “I have, but not up close. I saw them yesterday… I mean, on my last visit.”

  “Don’t let the timelines confuse you. I keep everything in real-world time, and that seems to work pretty well.”

  “Okay… then it was yesterday, or was it Friday? I’m a bit confused.”

  “You are doing great Gwen. I was not half as understanding as you seem to be. Drink some more coffee and tell me what you think of this house.”

  “This house is pretty much everything I want in a house. I have only been here a couple of times, but I know where most things are. One odd thing is that the bathroom is exactly like mine in real life. Same tiles, same colors, and even the same fixtures.”

  “Gwen, that’s not a coincidence. This is your dream house. That is what this world creates, and might I say I like what you have created.”

  “Wait. You sit right there; I have something I want to show you.” Gwen went to the hallway to fetch one of the blank picture frames. “What is the meaning of this? A blank frame hanging in my hallway?”

  “Ah, I can see how that would be confusing, and it puzzled me for quite a while as well. Those blank frames are your future Gwen.”

  “My future is blank?”

  “No, no,” Leo chuckled. “It means you have experiences to come, and possibly experiences to share, or even events where you will play a major role. Once they happen, the photos will fill the frames.”

  “Okay, I get that, but what about the painting? Come, take a look at this painting.”

  Leo put his hand on Gwen’s arm as she rose from her chair. “Hold on a moment. Before we go any further, we need to establish something. You, or I, could leave Notopia at any moment. We will not know when either of us is here or not. My house lies directly across the street from you, 42 Salem St. When I’m here, I will turn on the porch light, and the door is always open. Doors are rarely locked in Notopia.”

  “Okay, 42, I got it. Now, come with me to see this painting.” Gwen took Leo by the hand and led him to the painting in the bedroom. “There, look at that. Tell me what you see?”

  “I see a very beautiful place Gwen.”

  “You don’t see things moving?”

  “I do, Gwen, but that is not unusual for a painting here in Notopia. Gwen, look at it closely. Then close your eyes, I am willing to bet you have seen this before.”

  Gwen stared deep into the painting. The majestic redwood trees, the endless ferns, the inviting path, and the walking bridge over the stream all seemed to summon her. She then closed her eyes imagining herself prancing down that path, feeling the presence of nature, and smelling the fresh air. The air had a hint of salt, and she realized it must be near the coast. Then, it came to her; this was where her family used to go on vacation near Santa Cruz.

  “I’ve been there!” she said.

  “Yes, you have, and it is a wondrous place. Gwen, it is what they call your portal painting. It is where your mind goes back and forth; a type of convergence point of reality, memory, and dreams for you. I must say it is very inspiring.” Leo reached up and touched a redwood tree in the painting before sniffing his fingers. “Wow, I never smelled a redwood tree before, how tantalizing.” Leo continued to examine the painting. “Gwen, if there is any truth to the idea that one can find symbolism in these portal paintings then you are one very extraordinary woman.”

  Gwen blushed just a little inside as those words came from his lips. She hadn’t noticed before, but she was feeling very comfortable with Leo.

  “Leo, I’m afraid I’ve been a terrible host. I’ve been asking about me, and all the while you are the one that lost a dream. I have been selfish. Please tell me what happened out there tonight. Let’s go have that coffee, and you can explain it to me.”

  “Sure,” Leo said, and they proceeded through the hall to the kitchen. Leo was pleased to see his picture hanging in the hallway, and he was sure Gwen hadn’t noticed. “Gwen, before I tell you what happened tonight and share my dream with you, there is somewhere we need to go. It will make things clearer for you if you see this place first.”

  Gwen freshened his cup and then hers. “Okay Leo, I will trust you.” She placed the coffee urn on the table picked up her cup. It fell from her hand as she noticed Leo had vanished. She looked around the kitchen wondering if Leo was missing or if she was the one that had left? She was still in the Notopia kitchen.

  She soaked up the spilled coffee and put the cups on the counter next to the sink. She expected to return to reality any moment now. Walking about the house, she glanced a few times through the window across the street at No. 42, but no light was on. She returned to her bedroom and the painting. She could recall those days of vacationing there—the camping with her parents, the friends she met there—that she loved so much. She marveled at the accuracy of the painting. It was all coming back to her—the walking bridges over the stream, the smells, the coolness of the forest floor, and the comfort of the redwood tree canopy. It was like having your soul hugged by mother nature, she often thought.

  The doorbell ring broke the silence and Gwen moved instinctively to open the door. “I’m coming, Leo!”

  “I’m so glad your back!” She said while opening the door but stopped cold. It was not Leo.

  “Hello, Gwen. Fancy meeting you here,” Roger said with a huge smile.

  She threw her arms around him, ecstatic to see a familiar face! “Roger! Roger! But how did you get here? Why are you here? How on Earth did you find me?”

  “Whoa, slow down girl. I came to ask you questions. Frankly, I didn’t know you were here. I mean I’m glad you are and… hey, you never greet me like this at work, what’s up with that?”

  “I am so happy to see a familiar face. Someone I recognize and who recognizes me. Roger, this place is amazing! Why have you never told me about it? How long have you been coming here? Are you searching for a dream too?”

  “This is not the Gwen I know, the Gwen I know has the answers. I have been here a long, long time and yes, it is quite amazing indeed. Everyone here is searching for a dream. First things first Gwen, I have a couple of questions to ask you.”

  “To ask me? What could I possibly know that you don’t about this place?”

  “Gwen, I track and study the blue fire that happened outside this home tonight. That is why I’m here. I collected the samples, and I’d like to interview anyone who saw anything. What did you see?”

  “I didn’t see it, Roger. I saw the light flash, and I ran for the window. When I got to the window, all I could see was Leo standing there.”

  “Leo? You know Leo?”

  “Only that he lives across the way at number 42. We just met. He said a dream had died. He was going to tell me more, but he disappeared back to reality I think.”

  “Well, you seem to be adjusting quickly. I’m impressed but not surprised. Okay, well I will get all the details from Leo when I get the chance.”

  “He is very nice Roger. He isn’t in any trouble, is he?”

  “No, not at all. No one ever gets in trouble here Gwen. No one ever dies, and no one ever even gets sick.”

  “I saw you on the news, Roger, and I saw Delilah too. Is she with you? Is Paul here too?”

  “Gwen, you have to understand some things. Delilah is here from time to time, b
ut she doesn’t recognize me, and I doubt she will recognize you. Paul has not been here for many years. I’m quite astounded that you and I recognize each other. This level of familiarity rarely happens, and I have no idea what it means when it does. Some people become friends here and grow quite close, yet never recognize each other in reality. I wish I could explain it better, but I am just unable to. In fact, Gwen, I, you, or both of us may not recall knowing we have met here. I am pretty sure Delilah has yet to realize she comes here at all.”

  “I don’t understand Roger. There is so much I don’t understand.”

  Seeing tears of frustration in Gwen’s eyes, Roger hugged her. “Yes, Gwen. There is much to this place nobody understands.”

  ***

  Gwen felt a chill and decided to shut the window as it was much colder outside than she thought. She sat up in her bed and immediately realized she was back in the real world. Roger was gone, Leo was gone, and she was in her real-life bed. She checked the clock; not even a moment had passed, just as Leo had told her. Time spent in Notopia is of no consequence to time passing in the real world. Is this more than just another level of consciousness? Is this an alternate universe? Gwen barely understood the idea of alternate universes and multiple timelines. Is this a “fold in reality,” a seventh or eighth dimension? It was all too much to contemplate now, as she was exhausted and needed to sleep.

  ***

  Roger’s arms folded in on themselves. Gwen was gone, for now, and the lights in the house were out. He knew she would be coming back. He began to look around the house. Her portal painting had to be here somewhere. He noted the many blank frames in the hallway and there in the bedroom it hung. He stood before her painting, dumbstruck. It couldn’t be. What did this mean? How could this happen? The path, the bridge, the stream, and even the trees were identical to his painting.

  He had never seen this before and never imagined it could happen. Suddenly, all his plans and schemes were in jeopardy, or were they? He didn’t know. Maybe it meant something crucial, or it could mean nothing at all. He reached up and touched the stream and found the water to be quite cool.