Comfort In Connection

Though the number of tears in his eyes was great, he somehow managed to hold them back. Instead, his eyes glistened and glittered with the build up of moisture, though you could only see it if you looked closely, which at the speed he was travelling, was made impossible. Really, at that speed, he could have cried freely without anyone able to see. He ran robotically, his attention fixed on the image in his mind's eye, of a beautiful quiet, calm, tranquil sanctuary.

At long last, he reached it and as he stopped before the luminous willow, he let the air leave his lungs as he gazed at it. He fell to the ground and wriggled into a comfortable position, his eyes locked on the tree above him, it's leaves hanging so low he could almost reach out and touch them. Again he closed his eyes, breathing deep as a new image began to take shape on the screen of his eyelids. This time, he saw his parents, their faces just as he remembered. They were eternally ageless now. His mother would forever have the smooth porcelain skin that had always made her look so young. His father would always be in that state of pause, between the flawless appearance of youth and the wise looks that come with age. His father had always been mature beyond his years, one of the smartest people he'd known, but never would his looks catch up.

A smile spread across his lips as he continued staring lovingly at the same image. After a while, as if by some strange magic, he started to hear their voices, whispering in his ear.
"We love you Quinn," came the gentle, soothing voice of his mother. "We didn't want to leave you. We're sorry. So, so sorry," Quinn could see his mother's soft hand reaching out, but he knew the warmth of it's touch would not reach him. It was only then that he allowed a few tears to emerge and fall slowly down his cheeks. At this, the vision of his mother's face fell and she too looked like she wanted to cry.

The tears stopped when his father reached out to him. Though he, like Quinn's mother was not able to actually touch him, the gesture was enough. "Remember Son," said his father, speaking finally, his deep and serious voice comfortingly familiar. A tiny smile reappeared on Quinn's face as he remembered the countless times growing up when his father had given him a pep talk filled with logical reasoning and affectionate, loving reminders along with sprinkles of his wisdom and a library's worth of knowledge. "We are always with you, you just need to look deep within and you'll find us. We will always be with you. And when you forget, just come back here, to this sanctuary and we'll remind you ourselves that we are right by your side. Always."