Excerpt from Enchanted Island

Excerpt from my upcoming novel Enchanted Island

When Gabby got home Rosa and Manuel were sitting in the living room watching a movie. She wanted to give the couple their space so she headed to her room for a while. On New Year’s Eve the four friends took a picture just after midnight. Gilberto printed a copy for everyone to remember the occasion. Gabby thought the best spot for the photo was right above her bed. She couldn’t wait until she found the perfect frame so she decided to secure it with thumb tacks for the time being.Gabby gathered four tacks for each corner of the photo. She positioned it exactly where she wanted it and reached for the first tack. The photo slipped from between her finger and the wall, falling behind the headboard of her bed. Gabby let out a sigh of frustration knowing that it would be a tedious task retrieving the photo.

The solid wood bed was much too heavy to try to maneuver on her own. The best course of action would be to move the end table instead. Gabby slid the table a few inches so she could get in closer and grab the photo. As Gabby reached for the photo something strange caught her eye.

On the backside of the headboard was a strange engraving. She ran her fingers across the new discovery, and instantly received a massive electrical charge through her hand and up her arm. The sensation caught her off guard sending her tumbling back and hitting her head on the end table. She sat momentarily in a fog before the visions started.

She woke up to find that she was no longer in her bedroom. Gabby was being pushed into a dark cave by the Indian man. Again he spoke a language so beautiful, but was neither Spanish nor English yet she understood it perfectly. He urged her to stay vigilant while remaining in the cave away from the danger looming outside. Before running off the Indian man handed Gabby a mid sized medicine bag containing a heavy object.

Gabby was bewildered and frightened after the hasty exit of the Indian. She sorely lacked knowledge of what she was hiding from, or why she was now in possession of the medicine bag and its contents. Taking advantage of the light she removed the item from the bag. She held in her hand a tablet of some sort.

Gabby didn’t quite comprehend the carvings etched in the stone; they all just seemed like a random group of pictures. The images began to fade as it appeared that the cave was spinning slowly until it took on a new form. Gabby was now in a caney, a rectangular hut in the center of a village. Taking a closer look, Gabby saw that she was sitting among the small group of hunching people. She closed her eyes and instantaneously took on the experience.

One woman nearly a hundred years old sat off by herself with eyes closed. She mumbled the same words over and over. Gabby hesitated to get in closer but the woman spoke her name. The name she spoke was not Gabby or even Gabriella, but somehow she knew the woman was addressing her. Gabby hesitantly walked over to the old woman stopping just inches of where she was seated. In the blink of an eye the woman reached out and grabbed Gabby by the forearm with cat like reflexes. For an old woman her grip was firm and unwavering Gabby thought. The old woman spoke once more.
“Bring it back,” she urged. “You must return.”

Good Things....Finally

I’m so excited this morning! I don’t know how I actually went to sleep last night when I was so keyed up. Yesterday my friend and fellow writer checked our email and since then we’ve been on a high. The reason; we got our ISBN to register our books! We submitted our titles and just have to wait a few more days until our books will be searchable to the public! Just under two years ago I was down and out spiritually and emotionally. My heart was broken for the 4th time. Two times by the same person. Yeah shame on me, I know. Anyhow, I didn’t know what to do with myself and I found myself giving up on men altogether, yeah a story for another time. Anyway, I stumbled upon a site for women, a support forum for one specific topic.( Again discussion for another day) Right away I felt compelled to keep returning to this site. I chatted and posted in forums and got to know some of the regulars. Before I knew it these people were a part of my life even if only online. Well it didn’t take me very long to meet and become friends in real life with these women. One woman in particular. We’ve come such a long way in just under two years. I joked about it last night. We have traveled multiple times, purchased a time share, visited each other’s respective cities and last but not least, wrote and now in the process of publishing novels. In our many talks we simply just decided to start a publishing company. As if it were just as simple as deciding what to have for dinner. It seems to be the way we operate and it works. Me: “I’m going to Miami, wanna come?” Friend: “Ok” and guess what, we went I’m just so happy that things have just started working out for the both of us. We both struggle financially, me with my two kids and she with her husband. It would satisfy me completely for us both to be able to live a worry free existence. We are good people with our hearts in the right place. It’s nice to be on the receiving end of good things…Finally.

Reflection

As I move into a more positive existence I can’t help but reflect on what my life was like was before. I almost want to weep for the person I was. I allowed myself to stay in relationships well beyond their expiration date. I was such a firm believer in love and thought it should conquer all. That just may be true yet. I honestly don’t know anymore. I used to be such a hopeless romantic and saw the world through those proverbial rose-colored glasses. It took one person to totally shatter my ideals. What I can’t stand the most is that I allowed it. I allowed it for far too long. I’m happy to say now, that I took advantage of the new year and weeded out things and people who were not conducive to my growth. I’m saddened daily by the ejection of certain people from my life, but I’m reminded of their insincerity and the sadness lifts just a little bit more each time. I’m able to wake up every morning with a brighter outlook feeling much like I can take on the world. It is what I intend on doing. With supportive family and friends I feel confident that my life is becoming more of what it should have been all along, Happy and rewarding. It’s not to say that my life has been a total wash out up until now. It just means now I feel like I’m living on my own terms and I like it. Namaste.

Namasté

Greetings! I’m so full of light and joy at this particular time in my life. After so many years of financial struggle and heart breaks in my personal life, I have finally arrived at a place of peace. My son will be graduating from High School in June and heading to college. My daughter is growing into an amazing young woman, I’m so proud of her independent spirit. I’m surrounded by wonderful friends that only enrich my life. I’ve completed my first novel and now in the process of publishing it. I’m embarking on a new journey professionally and I feel great about it. I’m a single woman and I have to say that this is the best time of my life. From the age of 14 through most of my adult life I was in relationships. It was time to enjoy myself on my own terms and that’s what I’m doing. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. May many blessings be upon you. Namaste.