The Realm of Starlight

The pair set out into their hometown. Jeremy was still confused, but he followed his wife trustingly. It was strange walking through a city one knows like the back of their hand, all the while knowing it isn’t real.

Grace was half-tempted to open her front door as they walked by and go straight to bed. But, determined, she turned the corner of their neighborhood and saw the blinking sign of their local bodega.

“Hey, Grace!” Said the store owner as they stepped inside. “Need the usual?”

“Not today, Sal. Just checking something.” He nodded and turned to help another customer.

“Babe, what’re we doing here?”

She walked over to the counter and smiled. “Look.”

“Ah yes, the crème de la crème!” said Jeremy, sarcastically. “A stack of cigarettes and lottery tickets.”

“Not there,” she rolled her eyes. “Next to the cash register. Paper bags.”

“That’s what you wished for?”

“Yes. Well, I wished for no more single-use plastics in Portland. Sal’s has been using plastic bags for as long as I can remember. I argue with him about it almost every time I come in.”

“So it worked!”

“It did. Now we keep going.”

They walked across the street, heading toward their favorite park. Grace was determined to see how far these dream-powers could take them.

After confirming all parking lots had been replaced by miniature forests and that the city majoritively ran on public transportation, they started to get more ambitious. It had been a forever dream of Grace’s to create a town square packed full of green businesses wholly owned by locals. To their amazement, they found themselves standing under an archway with metal, serif letters that spelled “GRÜN GROUNDS.”

Jeremy turned to his wife. Reading his expression, she said “It’s German. Means “green.” He smiled. Underneath the archway was a plaque. It read:

Welcome to Grün Grounds

Established with a vision to cultivate a thriving and sustainable community, Grün Grounds stands as a testament to the spirit of harmony between humans and the environment. You will find an assembly of dedicated green businesses, united by a commitment to reduce our ecological footprint and create a better future for all.

We invite you to explore, shop, and support these eco-champions, as your choice reverberates through the web of life, impacting our world and generations to come. Grün Grounds stands as a beacon of hope, a place where green dreams become reality. Together, we are working towards a greener and brighter future for all.

“Subtle,” Jeremy said, grinning. Grace blushed. “It’s incredible. I think you’ve got the hang of this.”

“It’s still not enough.”

“When will it ever be enough?” Jeremy probed. “Think about it: In a couple of minutes, you changed the whole course of this city. Think about what you could accomplish in a lifetime.”

“But it still isn’t real.”

“Grace,” he looked over lovingly. “Just because you dream it, doesn’t make it unreal. It means you’re outright refusing to accept reality as it is, to believe there’s still something good that exists. Hope is enough.”

She looked back through the archway, where a thriving chestnut stood guard, covering the square in shade. Shoppers scurried from stall to stall, laughing and complimenting each other. Her heart longed to join them, to be a fellow townsperson idle and relaxed. But she knew it would not help. She was, after all, on a mission and she was never one to run away from a problem. This is enough.

Instantly, the picture was drained of all color as the gray clouds once again spun around them.

Grace and Jeremy stood in the clock tower once more.

“What happened?” Grace asked, utterly confused. “We were just making progress!” Jeremy inspected the door.

“It’s closed.” He said, and then something caught his eye. “Wait, there’s something new written under the sign.” Grace joined him.

THE REALM OF STARLIGHT: FROM TWINKLE TO WRINKLE.

An ornate sense of closure dawned on Grace. She had experienced such a wide range of emotions over the last few hours, she felt exhausted. Though, it felt well-earned. She felt lighter.

“That’s weird,” Jeremy said.

“I think it’s cute! It’s like a little storybook.”

“No, not the sign. The time.”

Grace’s heart stopped. “Oh no, are we late again?”

“My phone says we were only in there for 3 minutes.”

Relief and confusion now consumed Grace. “There’s no way! It felt like hours. I mean, we watched the sunrise in Portland, we went to Sal’s and half the other convenience stores in our area.”

“That’s just what it says.”

“This place is determined to keep us on our toes.” Grace walked over to the red door, sighing. “I really hope this place doesn’t involve flying.”

“So we’re going back in?”

“I have a good feeling about this one.”