I am in a room full of people but I can’t see anything. I can hear a harp playing and the click of glasses and the scrape of cutlery. But the room is so bright, I can’t see anything going on around me. I close my eyes.

When I open them, I’m in a forest and hear the harp music in the distance. I try to find out where it’s coming from but I am just getting more and more lost amongst the trees. Nothing here is familiar, not even the kinds of trees and flora. And everytime I think I’m close, the music becomes distant again.

After wandering for a time, Someone steps out from behind a tree and hands me a mimosa. I was surprised when I realized it was my Aunt Sylvia. She gives me a warm hug and says she is glad I found the party. But Aunt Sylvie, I say, I haven’t found anything. You found me, she says with a smile as she puts her arm around my shoulder. No Aunty, you found me, I say. Well, however you found us, I’m glad you did, she says warmly. She then starts to lead me into the woods.

We come to a clearing that’s lit up like day. I notice my Aunt is wearing a lovely well fitted greek toga. She is adorned with beautiful silver and gold jewelry. There’s a peacock made of the finest gold, almost as thin as thread, in her hair, holding the left side tight to her head. She looks like a Goddess in the bright light with people laughing and dancing beyond her.

There are many people here, most of them either dancing in the centre of the clearing or on the edges having spirited conversations. Every now and then, I hear laughter from the woods, or happy squealing then couples or groups of folk would come out of the woods.

What are they doing, I ask my Aunt. Why, they’re looking for the door, of course, she says as if this is the most natural thing to be doing in the middle of the night. The door to what, I inquire. Why, to the Fairy Castle, where else, she says with an incredulous look. Just being asked here is an honor you know, you should be more grateful, she says. She isn’t mad, but she does seem confused as to why I’m not up to speed with the program.

Didn’t you get the invite, she asks me. What invite, I ask her. To the party, the invite to come find the main party, Jes. Why else would you be here, she asks me. This is the biggest event of the year, she goes on to say. Only the most elite are ever invited. Your Uncle and I found the party years ago, so before going, we like to come here and watch everyone try to find the right door to the castle. It’s exciting to watch fortune smile on people, don’t you think, she says and lets the question hang in the air while I take everything in.

She nudges me and smiles. Oh yes, of course Aunt Sylvie, that is nice to see. So, she says eyeing me with a sly smile. So, I parrot her. Have you found the door, she asks. No, I hadn’t been looking. What does it look like, I ask. A door, she says then we start to walk around the dim woods away from the day bright clearing. Watch, she tells me. And as we wander, we see single people, couples and groups wandering through the trees in the dark. They are pulling on the trunks in odd places, feeling for knots or trick roots that will open a door that takes them to the most coveted party of the year.

Now do you understand, Aunty asks me. Yes, I think I do, I say. She hugs me and smiles. Then she holds me at arms length and looks me top to toes. Yes, I think you’re ready. You’ll do well at the castle. Now go find your door. With a final hug she sends me on my way. We both smile at each other and wave as she shoo’s me off.

As I walk around looking for suspicious looking trees, I notice that some people a little ways off found some kind of door. I looked over to see them opening what looked like a door in a tree trunk, they are suddenly covered with a bright blue goo. They all look at eachother, pointing and laughing when the door pulls itself shut and the goo disappears. With an over excited energy, the people in the group rush off to check other trees.

Curiosity drew me to the tree that had just psyc’d out the last bunch. I give it a good look over. Nothing looks out of place. No lines or openings. Not so much as a crack mars the face of this trunk. I place my hand upon it in a respectful reverence. As I pull my hand away, the trunk seems to dematerialize to show an golden passage within.

Well, others must have seen this happen because suddenly I’m swarmed with people. They’re all laughing and calling to one another and pressing around me and jostling me until all had passed but me. I stood there, more than a little frustrated that people could be so pushy and not even give me the opportunity to go first. Oh well, maybe last is better, I thought.

With I sigh, I stepped into the passage. It was still bathed in a soft golden light but where the light was coming from I wasn’t sure. The walls were flecked with gold and it seemed to be the source of light, but I had no way to be sure. I wasn’t normal, that much I could be certain of.

I began walking along until the passageway split before me. I could hear everyone to the right, so I went down the left tunnel. It split off several more times and I started to wonder how I would get out. Then, a young man ran passed me. When he realized he just passed a person, he turned right around and came back to me.

No use going that way, he said. All we found were dead ends. So if you see Andy, tell him I went back to the start. Not knowing who Andy was or even who this guys was, and not too sure it mattered, I just smiled and said ok. Without another word, he takes off again.

I wandered until I heard what sounded like hushed whispers ahead. Maybe Andy and a friend, I thought. I followed the whispers and then I started to hear music, a harp and the clinking of glass. I had several flashes of a beautiful ballroom filled with people from all over the world dancing a Waltz. The closer I got, the more frequent the visions.

The golden light starts to get more intense, turning almost silver then white. I feel someone grab my hand and start to lead me off in a Waltz. A face comes into view. It seems to be a kind and happy face. Welcome, I’m so glad you could make it. It’s in the blood you know. To be able to find us here is a blessing. Confused, I just look up into his large, green eyes and offer an awkward Thank you. Then I woke up.

January 11, 2018.