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Any World You Choose
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8
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"We aren't dead Rich. Well...you're not, and I'm not really...at least
not in the sense you mean." Peter spread his hands out to show he meant
no harm and sat down on the ground, motioning for Richard to follow.
Mindfull of the shadows around him and of the howl on the wind he did,
his trust in his friend and his desire for answers outweighing his
fear.
"I wish you could have come Rich, you should see..you should see what's
there.The music, oh Rich the music...it's amazing really."
"Where Pete, where did you go. Wha...what music? Why do I remember? Why
couldn't I go with you. For christ's sake Pete what the hell are those
things!" Richard pointed to the shadows that waited outside the
clearing, the same shadows that had followed him through the woods
eleven years ago.
"They're yours Rich, your fears. The reason you couldn't come with me,
even though you could have. I wanted you to come with me Rich, you
always came with me on my adventures. You should have seen the
adventures I've had, and millions yet to come. But it's lonely Rich,
I've all the worlds to choose from and it's still lonely." It only
lasted a moment, but Richard could see the sadness on his friends face.
A deep longing for something given away long ago.
"You can't come back can you Pete? Where ever you went, who ever took
you there, you can't come back."
The devil's grin of long ago replaced the look of sadness. The glint
returned to Peter's eyes as he looked at his aged friend.
"No, no I can't. It was worth it though. If you could have seen me
Richard! If you could have been there! It was like Peter Pan, Alice in
Wonderland, John Carter of Mars, and Tarzan all rolled into one!
Worlds, Richard! Worlds without end. All our dreams and adventures
given form. The tastes, the sounds, the songs! Amazing!"
Richard felt the infectious excitment he had always felt around Peter.
Peter, for who the whole world was an adventure. With a sudden shock
Richard longed to have been at his friend's side through all the things
he had seen.
"I'm sorry Pete, I...I was afraid. I didn't hear what you heard, didn't
see what you saw." Richard felt his friend's fingertips on his chin as
Peter raised his head to stare into Richard's eyes.
"That's your problem Rich, you were always afraid. You couldn't come
because...well, because the other place reacts to what's inside you.
You heard the music, but it was distorted by fear. Fear's a fine thing,
and important too. I been scared plenty of times. Remember Brian
Johnson? That bully who lived down the street? Remember me standing up
to him? I almost crapped myself."
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9