The Portal
A Short Story by Peter Stern
The Portal
On a street in a quiet neighborhood is where I once lived, at least that was until I met Leah,
Leah was the kind of kid to who enjoyed some of the more simple pleasures in life. My neighborhood wasn’t much but it was spacious and there was plenty of room for hanging out. When we were young Leah and her friends would run around the neighborhood together when things would get stale and we would all get along, for the most part, once in a while the kids would get into these little arguments that would lead to something bigger, but when the times got rough we always had enough space to help. we all got a lot older as years went by and in some ways things became easier. I think in a way it made things really boring. I felt like maybe I was just and easy target, but the easier things got the less begging there would be to help. It felt like I was more alone now than ever. But the other day Leah showed up with a few of her friends and it was like old times. But it came with such a price tag. More arguing, it was really disappointing we just couldn’t keep things nice for a change. Things just started getting kind of dark. My whole earth started to spin out of control.
The next few weeks Leah kept coming back. She wouldn’t say anything for a little while, till one day she told me she had seen this portal in her mind. it kept calling to her. Things kept getting weirder. When we would go out to get treats she kept shaking uncontrollably, we would enter house and the lights would flicker and almost change color. One day I heard a crashing sound come from the back room where Leah was staying. She started Screaming and then nothing. I rushed to the room but before I could get a good look. Leah was gone. I rushed back down to the basement where my sister was siitting drinking a soda.
>have you seen Leah
>>I haven’t seen her since she left
>>She went outside a few minutes ago
Peters pulse was rising, a cold sweat beaded along his brow. Peter grabbed his coat and rushed out the door to the space where they used to play and run around the park. There was an old tree where Leah and I used to catch Caterpillars maybe I still have time to catch her. Peter ran to the back of the park by the tree line to find her. A Dark Blue glow from behind the trees started to pulse to the beat of peters. Chills ran up peters neck as he looked from behind the trees. His foot stems crunched as he stepped foot into the tree line. The closer peter got to the light the brighter it got. Its got me. Peter thought. I cant stop moving. In an instant Peter fell to his knees. Everything went Dark.
>>Somebody Help!
>Leah!?
>>>SILENCE
A Blue Portal opened up with a booming voice
>>>IS THIS HOW YOU SPEAK TO THE PORTAL
Peter was in stunned. Shaken to the core.
>>>BOW BEFORE ME AND NO OTHERS BEFORE ME
Peter bowed with his face to the floor
>>>FOR I HAVE SUMMONED YOU TO RISE AND MEET YOUR POTENTIAL
The portal turned pink. He saw his old friends by the tree.
>>> THIS WAS YOUR SPACE. IT WAS FOR YOU. BUT YOU KEPT SQUANDERING IT ON OTHERS.
>I was alone being lonely.
>>> VERY WELL THEN
***FLASH***FLASH***
In a split second Peter started spinning, in a daze, woke up in a room the size of a closet. He looked around but there was no doors. Just Leah Crying in her sleep.
>Get us out of here, take us home.
>>>LOOK ABOVE
Peter Glanced towards the sky. The ceiling was open and the walls were almost three stories high. The Portal Closed. Leah awoke, confused, for a moment, but didn’t stop crying.
>What’s wrong
>>I never meant to cause any trouble.. but I need to confess..
Leah was holding back the tears.
>>When I came back Last week.. it wasn’t to see you.. but to see the butterflies.. like we used to when things were fun..
>Leah.. I.. I’m not mad.. I could never be mad.. you’re my friend..
Leah stopped crying and looked around.
>>This looks like the old room my parents used to send me to, but it looks a little different than I remember.
Peter Puzzled
> what’s going on? Why are we here?
>> Remember that summer I came back from camp. All the butterflies were flocking in the park and they all started landing on you.. they picked you Peter.. I came back because.. I wanted to be more like you.. so I ran away, Just like when you ran to chase the butterflies.. I kept running.. but.. I got lost on the way.. and somehow I woke up here with you..
Peter’s eyes began to tear, his throat began to tighten.
>I’m the one who should be sorry.. seeing you come back that summer.. you were glowing.. and you made me forget all my problems.. but now.. my problems are catching up with me.. I should have never dragged you into all of this..
>>I guess we must of dug in too deep trying to find those Dino bones.. lets leave what’s dead in the past.. its not going to help us get out of here any faster.
Just as Peter was loosing hope he looked up to see a small flutter coming from the sky. It was floating into site. It was a butterfly. Peter quickly bowed his head to the floor without thinking said a small prayer. A portal Opened up beneath them and Leah and Peter started levitate towards the sky. They could see everything so clearly for miles. Nothing but lush green country.
>>>WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!? YOU DARE BOW BEFORE ANOTHER!?
>You came to me in the form of a butterfly.. you picked me.. we see value in the beauty of nature.. we believe in the butterflies..
>>> VERY WELL.. YOU HOLD COMPASSION FOR SAFETY AND SERENITY.. YOU MAY RECIVE YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL..
A green light flickered in the corner of Peters eye. Like the hand of god peter was plucked out of the sky and tossed clear across the country. He had landed near a small lagoon by some trees where a trail lead around the lagoon. Peter Focused in. his feet began to move down the trail as if the Lagoon was calling to him. He reached a clearing by one of the sides of the lagoon. He could see out down a few acers around the clear of lush forest and an rust colored sky.
>what time is it? Dusk or Dawn?
Peter heard some rustling from further down the trail. Some voices reverberated off of the trees like a warm breeze. Peter Peaked around the clear.
>Mother!?
>> Hey there baby boy was just thinking about ya. Remember this place? Its where we used to take you when you were young when we would go camping with the other families. I don’t think we’ve ever been this far down the trail. Look at all these beautiful Lilly pads you’ve stumbled upon. Looks like they’re about to bloom. And Its so late in the year.
Peter Unfocused for a moment and gazed around the Lagoon. The Lily pads were glowing. He’d never seen anything like it. He and his mother tip toed over to a few stepping stones by the lagoons edge to touch one of the lilies.
>>Looks like we made it just in time. You’ve earned it kid. You’re going to be magnificent.
A tear rolled down peters cheek and dropped into the lily. The Lagoon began to changed colors from gold to blue to green.
>> it’s a blessing! Take your time with this one!
The Lilies began to bloom one by one slowly they unhatched. Peter softly touched one. To pick it up. Peter smiled to look up and show his Mother. In the blink of an eye she was gone. He looked off into the distance. In the distance off into the horizon, breaking free from the skies was a cloud of pink butterflies floating away from the trees. Like the rainbow after a thunderstorm. The fear and loneliness subsided as a warm shadow of bitter sweet fulfillment leave a gaze upon his eyes like never before. Astonished. Peter broke free from his focus.
>… I didn’t see it then… but this whole time… I’ve been holding myself back… while holding the door open for others… to make myself feel better… why didn’t I hold myself to a higher standard… I’ve never been more moved… But I’m here by myself… picking up the pieces…
The blossom began to glow a bright orange the same color as the skies. A high pitch ringing rose from his left ear to the right. A sing bead of water rose from the blossom and sprayed out into a ripple like a fine mist.
A few voices echoed back from the clearing. He knew those voices like the back of his hand.
>>Not all by yourself.. not yet..
>>>what day is it? Looks like the suns rising.
>>>>Hope you weren’t waiting too long
A small group of friends peeked out from behind the clearing. It was his old friends from his neighborhood.
>>>>There he is it’s Peter!
>>Peter, not a race dude hah
>>>You know Peter always out front chasing the rabbit
Peter quickly tucked away his blossom tightly. Caught off guard peter was stunned to see them all getting together by themselves.
>What in the world are you guys doing together? Last time I saw you guys together you were at each others throats.
>>>>We Decided it would be for the greater good to set aside out differences in order to make things more balanced.
>>That last time we saw each other really sat on us funny. It took a second for us to really immerse ourselves in what had happened. We were angry for all the wrong reasons when we should have just listened to you from the start Pete.
>>>Keep it simple stupid. Or the K.I.S.S. method as you would always say
>>we thought we could do it alone. But we realized it just felt so much better to let go of the past and move forward on some better footing.
The group peter once used to care for, the same group that left peter all alone, had finally returned waving a white flag.
>I Guess this must all be for the best, just glad to see less fighting.
>>>>yeah these two really squashed their beef.
>> yeah with a FORK
>>>well why do I always have to fix everything every time something breaks
>>because you break them in the first place.
>well something happened between you two it sounds like
>>They clogged the sink making too much dinner and tried to flush it all. I went to use the sink and it wouldn’t drain and got upset and told them to fix it. I came back five minutes later and they’re trying to fish it all back out with a fork! They were making a mess all over. I was pissed.
>>>I did fix it just a little more non conventionally then most people would have tried to.
>>it took hours. But then They just said, Nothing good Comes Easy, and it started to settle in my mind for a minute. I remembered the tough times we used to go through. They used to keep me up at night and they would make me so angry. But I felt as if the light out weighed my darkness, because you wanted to keep things better between all of us. So I let it go. It felt really good.
>>>>And things couldn’t be sweeter. We all felt really good so we came out here to hike.
>>I realized a used you for your safety and just tried to steal it from you. You cant live a free and easy life worrying about that burden. Even though I was surrounded by people I was more alone than before you found me.
Peter Began to see himself through his friends eyes for the first time. He was proud he was able to bring them such light.
Time Froze. A portal with a Green Glow opened up behind his friends.
>>>>>SIEZE THE DAY
With out another moment of hesitation Peter swiftly passed through his friends as if they were ghosts. Quickly he stepped into the portal. He looked back as if they were still communicating through telepathy.
>>Remember these nights, They will help heal you for the journey ahead. Follow your Dreams. Blue is for you Don’t forget that. Don’t forget us.
Past the Light
Through the Darkness
Hold fast, Have Faith
Surrender, Surrender
Through the Portal
An old rickety stairwell lay pathway to a dimly lit hallway. A white light at the top to help people see. One by One, Step after step peter made his way through the passage into a white hallway. Peter meandered down the hallway for a moment where he turned to see what looked like a brick nursery room painted in baby blue. He recognized this room. It was his old daycare at the monastery. Curious he poked his nose inside. He smiled for a second, and checked under the cupboards to see if the old cookie jar was inside. Bingo, right where they left them. The cupboards looked a little dusty. But he could smell the cookies like they were freshly cooked this morning. The jar looked to be a little more faded than he remembered but it was still that same orange and blue jar he pined for so often.
>>>> Staying long? We could use some extra hands in spirit!
An older female voice from behind him pipped up. Peter turned to see it was his old Daycare teacher. Peter snickered nervously with his hands around the jar.
>>>> Save those for the next class mister. They’ve been working extra hard on piano practice just like you
>not too much like me I hope…
>>>> hah, I’d hope you’d be dreaming harder about your own success. Why don’t you make yourself useful and take these cookies to the alter.
Hungry, but hopeful, Peter followed his teachers orders a quick wave and walked out back into the hallway down the main hall again. Past the entrance the light had grown Stronger for a moment then flickered dim again. He started walking down the darkened hallway. All the way down past the old Classroom where Mrs. Carter would help the mentally ill and deaf she also doubled up on teaching music. Just behind the corner he could hear Mrs. Carter fuddling around with the wires in the ceiling.
>> Stupid Dumb Lights never work right around here.
>Knock Knock, Need some help? I brought cookies
>>aren’t those for the next class
>Ignorance is bliss
>>Do ya remember the rest?
>whence is folly to be wise
>>They never did give you the time of day did they? Glad to see you’re making up for all those Check minuses we used to give you. If the deaf have taught me anything its to be grateful you can hear the difference between the voices in your head against the voices around you. Like casting a shadow in the dark. You decide your own fate.
>you always did teach from the bottom of your heart
>>I didn’t put all that love into that cookie jar for nothing
>thanks for all those time you spent after class teaching me. I didn’t see it then but it means so much to me these days
>>Run those down to Pastor Parker and Pastor Nick. They’ll be tickled to see you
I walked away and waved goodbye to Mrs. Carter wistfully. I was thankful I ran into her here. Just down the hallway I could hear pocket change jingling in the pockets of who I could imagine belonged to the smiling face of Pastor Nick. Peter walked down the hallway as it grew darker for only a moment. At the end of the hallway was the main entrance into the Auditorium where the music rooms were. And there he stood Past Nick.
>>> Hey Scout, whatcha got there?
>Daycare wanted me to take these treats to the alter.
>>> Yep, go take those right up to Pastor Parker, they’re practicing in the music rooms. Just head through the auditorium. Have a blessed day.
He waved and headed back down the hall to Mrs. Carters room. The auditorium was so dark with out the lights on. The only lights they had bright enough were the orange lights shining down on the alter way up front and a few walk way lights. I started walking down the side entrance of the auditorium, Knowing this was the quickest way to the Organ Hall. Just as I opened the door I saw the grate they use to keep people out of the organ chambers, I snickered, they used to tell me they kept the bad kids in there. It was opened. I’d never seen this open much before. Certainly not with out an adult around. I peeked inside, etched on the wall said Slowly.. I looked around to see if anyone was around, but not a single soul. Now is my chance. I slinked through the gate and closed it behind me. Like a fly on the wall I could see and hear everything. I held still for a moment to listen. I could hear the footsteps of Pastor Parker making his rounds. I could hear him mumbling to another decan about skepticism in the church being unaligned with his messages from a few weeks before. I crawled a bit more way down the tunnel. It was almost too dark to make out, looks like it could have been crossed out.
Peter traced the etchings with his fingers. The worlds scribed out See No, Hear No, Speak No. a high pitched ringing rose to his ears and he heard the gate open. He quickly crawled back out and made his way back. Peter tuned in and out of his senses to hear the plunking of a poorly tuned piano. The lights in the auditorium flickered for a moment but nothing. Peter began to move down the aisle of the auditorium where he reached the front of the organ room where he could hear the practicing coming from he opened the door to the back stage. Just down the hall he could see pastor Parker and Mrs. Carter making small talk as they were getting the kids ready.
>>Hey Did you get lost?
>>>>>Well Well, the lord sure works in mysterious ways, good to see ya how ya been.
Pastor Parker Smiled and shook my Hand
>hah yeah, its been a while
>>>>>Still know the way around to the alter?
>yeah I think so its just been so long is all
>>>>>Glad to see you’ve answered the lords calling for you. Class starts in about ten minutes, why don’t you go up behind the baptism pool down this hallway, take the stairs at the end of the room to get to the alter.
>> The kids will love you for it
Peter giggled out of nervousness and gave them a thumbs up before stumbling up the stairs to the baptism room once or twice.
Fearful
Anxious
Nervous
Intrigue
Why take me around back to the baptism room its so out of the way I thought to myself. I couldn’t quite stick my finger on it, but the resounding ringing in my ears started to feel right, everything started to soften as I made my way into the baptism room. My Nerves took a back seat to my intrigue with every step. The light from the auditorium Cascaded into the baptismal pool. The pool had a faded but bright blue stained all over the sides of the walls, a rack of baptismal robes hung as ghosts against the side wall. There’s no way this still gets used.
Peter set the jar by the railing looked at the bottom of the pool. He vaulted over the railing creating a small thud jumped down into the pool catching his fall beneath his feet.
*THUD*
>Empty..
As peter stood back up he noticed a small glimmer from the alter lights down by the edge of the pool. It was a crystal.. He pinched the crystal between his index and thumb and held it up to the alter lights in the auditorium. The Prism broke free with light creating rainbows on across the auditorium and back onto his face. The light was pulling to him as time was ticking on. One by one the auditorium lights started flickering back on.
>every second counts.
Peter put the crystal into his other pocket, quickly grabbed the cookie jar and headed for the stairs at the end of the room. At the bottom of the stairs wait the alter. Peter gave the cookie jar one last inspection before he put it he thought they smelled so good earlier. Peter cracked the lid of the jar to reveal a jar full of sandwich cookies.
>don’t they know these are processed?
Peter closed the jar and set it down on the alter. Peter made his way back down the aisle down to the main entrance of the auditorium. As Peter reached the double doors the organ began to play. Peter felt contentment for the first time since he left the church. The children began funneling out into the pews in the ghostly robes. He smiled as he waved and mouth I’m so proud of you guys. As peter made his final steps out of the auditorium from behind him heard a SPLASH. Chills creeped up peters back.
I was back outside the church. I remember this place seemed less vibrant back then, the garden is stunning. Just behind the some burnt orange flowers opened up a portal. Peter stepped through. On the other side Peter could smell the leaves changing colors. Peter followed his gut and he walked trough the trees.
>I know this place..
Peter did very well know this place, it was the lake by an old subdivision where met his first childhood friend. The boys would play on scooters and zip around the neighborhood throwing firecrackers at one another. They would come down to the lake to look for treasure. All we could ever find were just usually old broken bottles and old cigars in old hunting shacks. Today peter was in search for his fallen comrade.
*CROAAAKKKK*
*RIBBET*
*RIBBET*
Right at Peters feet squat the chubbiest, Wortiest, Oldest looking toad in the woods.
*Splat*
*Splat*
*Splat*
*Splat*
The frog was hitting his tongue at Peters feet. Peter danced back Kicking something hard with his heel. He reached down, it was the wax bottle the boys made all those years ago as kids, but what was it doing all the way out here? In the distance he heard a scream and saw a faint lady like figure dancing into the lake flipping the bird before diving in. the frog flipped backwards into the lake without creating as so much as a splash. The bottle caught aflame by the neck. Peter quickly put it out in the mud behind him. As he picked up the bottle he fell backwards into a blue portal where he landed on the rug next to a tile floor and some cupboards.
Peter picked himself up from the floor as he stood he saw beam of light shoot across the horizon of the room. Peter looked around. And didn’t recognize much of anything. Something familiar but something was off. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Hints of blues through out the kitchen and White walls in the living room.
>Have I been here before?
He looked out of the kitchen window to see nothing but open country. It was the country house him and Leah were trapped in.
>this must be the place..
He looked up to see a portal hole still open but he could see through to the otherside. It was the walls to the rooftop where they had both been plucked from the sky. He could see something moving.
Once again, it was the same butterfly Peter had bowed to. Hands and forehead to the floor he kissed the floor under where it was floating.
>>YOU WILL NOT FLOAT IF YOU HAVE NO WINGS
He looked up in a fright to catch another glimpse of the butterflies’ wings. Almost in an instant he watched the butterfly vanish.
>>YOU ARE HOME. MEET YOUR POTENTIAL.
The portal closed. The silence grew up around him as the cold breeze hit his chest. He stood speechless as the Sun began to set outside the kitchen window. Alone. He was to stay, miles and miles separated Peter from his old neighborhood. Too Choked up to speak. This was where he was to grow into his potential. The wide-open country. A bigger house with bigger blessings to serve and bigger burdens to mend. It was his and his alone. A tear rolled down his cheek.
Without Leah.. Just Peter and his memories.. his cross to bear.. Through the gates of hell and back..
..Alone..
The Human Genome Hypothesis
The human genome is alive an well in ever living human that we know in existence today, Passed down through generation from life to loss and the hereby after. While humans coexist with both the nature of physics and nature itself, the Human Genome is apart of the universal unconsciousness, which subsequently is apart of out archaic revival from a past time when humans sit and communicate. Our species seeks to heal itself and revert back to a time before people understood each other through the device of a need for self discovery in a universal language. there is much evidence that leads us to believe that the universal subconsciousness is at work, its very possible that we were just thoughts in the mind of a greater consciousness that all living things stem from. A consciousness devoid of life as we know it in the vacuum of time and space. I believe that the mushroom (psylocibe cubensis) is just that catalyst that connects our waking consciousness to the soul. Likened to that of the universal subconsciousness, The mushrooms are that of an antenna in the connection to the radio waves that allow us to communicate to our planet earth mother Gaiya. Allowing us to hack the human brain to access realms beyond sight sound emotion and spiritual both tangible and intangible. In order to communicate with a deeper sense of self. Just like our planet the Human genome is a living breathing organism with its own physical and mental/ethereal lofty realms of thought and psychedelic physiology, much like the human brain the universal subconscious can react and memorize thoughts and patterns within the celestial realm and much like the human brain is capable of experiencing the ID the human genome and the universal unconsciousness are a system of life that is capable of redirecting/rediscovering itself both within and outside of the confines of space time. Just like a human our planet wants to be as well received as we are as humans in the celestial crust. Much like human has the potential to create toxic traits. There are many Mass extinctions on our planet that have demolished all living things and life as we understand, many of which have been chemically based reactions. Just as a call to caution, the planet becomes more in tune with itself and its environment. And just as unfavorable chemical reactions can occur in the human body so can favorable reactions occur as well. The order of operations have allowed life on earth to evolve. There is evidence in the line of phobias that lead me to believe that the bipedal humans that we know to believe may only be a much smaller portion of what we as humans looked like before our simian cousins. A bread crumb trail in psychedelic culture has given me reason to believe its very possible humans had more than two arms. Or two eyes. Or anything. Even asymmetry. As the physical traits evolved so did the mental and spiritual. And time after time life has been able to withstand the tests of time in tune with that of the capacity to make moves along side our planet. Human life has always been central to creating Monolithic Cultures surrounding such spiritual and mental capabilities. I believe that the events that took place on our planet are inescapable in being combined with our own human experience and all life on our planet. The need for fire became a necessity as humans began to work together to create networks of families and villages. I believe the volcano is akin to the networks of villages that benefited from the gift of the flame in safety in hopes to connect itself with life on earth. Just like the neural systems laced within our brain, these volcanoes acted as synapse response centers that allowed us to communicate along the lava lines through our own human/living spirituality. As the revival of rock culture has returned to our grasp as humans so have the messages/actions spoken from gaiya. The high functioning spirituality of the human condition has been so ingrained within our psyche the human cannot detach itself from the inner workings of our universal spirituality that we share as human beings through tradition and culture. Much like tradition in culture there are blessings to be given along with the unfortunate demise of said blessings as there is no truth worse than clinging to our failures as humans. For we are many. The question is weather or not we on this planet and life as we know it to be timeless or not. Are we fit to become the dominators of our own mistakes. And much like our own mistakes. Is it possible to see through them. I say through what we know about physics and vibration wavelength we extend the possibilities and potential that we may be exactly as close as the touch of a door bell to a frame. As we are spectral in human analysis so are we juxtaposing our planet analogous to that of our Milky Way.
in short much like human beings are able to create new opportunities both within and outside of our natural born matrix, the planet is able to predict cosmic events and navigate itself around the solar system through the displacement (+/-) of vibrational energy both from the movement of molecules surrounding morphogenetic fields within our DNA to the movement of mountains over tectonic plates, into the depths of space as our planet rotates around the sun, to the center of your soul.
We are all connected.
∞