"Mother!"  an excited voice called from the outside of a small house.  "I'm home!"

Glee rose in a pair of blue eyes upon hearing the voice of her daughter. Quickly stepping over creaky hardwood floors, the middle aged woman opened the screen door and extended her arms to the young woman.  Both embraced tightly and sighed in relief upon feeling each other close.  The bond of kinship was strong between them, and as they brought their hands back to their sides they continued to smile in each other's presence.

Marie was fifty-five, though she didn't look it.  Her face was slightly wrinkled and showed evidence that she took great care of herself in her younger years.  Her hair short and curly, it faded into a strawberry blonde color in an effort to still cling to a deep red hue well known when she was forty.  She lost her husband when she was fifty, and since then the bond with her daughter became more inseparable.  Both had known too much pain while he had Alzheimer's, but both were able to put things behind them and go on with life.

In comparison, Estella radiated with her mother's beauty and father's build.  She was taller than Marie and held broad shoulders that when held proud, revealed the strength of her inner spirit.  She was a strong young lady, having been subjected to so much pain at an early age, but she still held onto a perfect hourglass figure inherited from Marie.  She moved with dexterity as she gently sat her large bags inside the enclosed porch of the house, and smiled back to her mother after looking at the new place.

"So moving wasn't too hard for you?"  she asked as she opened the screen door to the living room, "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help."

Marie took her bags and placed them inside the room after closing the door behind her, "No darling."  She said, "You have too much to worry about at college, I'm just happy you're here now."

She nodded and looked around for a moment.  The walls and floor were all made from wood, and shinned brightly with a lacquered finish.  A ceiling fan spun about provided illumination from a multicolored lamp in the center.  A few chairs were placed in the room, but they did not grab Estella’s attention as much as some cardboard boxes that were placed at random on the floor.

The young woman raised an eyebrow and walked toward them.  They all seemed to be full of dusty objects and she tried to focus more on the contents.  Shaking her head slightly she spoke to her mother, "I thought you said you finished unpacking?"

Marie smiled slightly in response, "Well yes and no.  Didn't I tell you about the old antebellum house behind this one?  This one I bought was a sharecropper's house that was extensively remodeled, but the previous owners didn't have enough money to remodel the large one outside."

Estella's eyes opened wide in disbelief.  Louisiana prided itself on the old plantations as historical relics and tourist attractions.  There was only one famous house in the central part of the state that was always up for exhibition.  Still she did not question at this point but let her mother continue, "Anyway I have spent time gathering old things from the house and what I found is in the boxes below.  The historical preservation society should come along anytime to go through and perhaps buy some of the things I found.  So if there's anything you think you would enjoy, please take it before they do."

"Mother."  Estella's tone attempted to reach her sympathetically, "Do you have any idea how important it is to have a plantation house restored?  I mean are you just going to let it go to waste?"

Marie sighed at her daughter's comment, "It's too late. The foundation is weak and the house will fall apart at any moment, it's not worth saving. Besides who would come out here to see the house when there's another one that is more accessible to tourists.  Kent House can afford the advertising to attract visitors, I can't.  It's best to just let it go.  The historical preservation society said if they could have the artifacts inside then they would tear the house down for me.  I can't refuse such an offer, I don't have the money to tear it down."

Estella turned from her mother to look at the contents of the boxes. 'Historical preservation society, yeah right'  she muttered to herself. Tearing down an old house had nothing to do with preservation but she shrugged off the idea as something had her attention.

A small figure of some sort lay covered in dust.  It seemed to shimmer for a bit and she didn't know if it was a trick of the light or if it was something else.  It seemed rather heavy and was twice the size of the palm of her hand.  Holding onto it tightly, she blew at it in an attempt to free it from the dust.  Particles flew everywhere and she closed her eyes in reaction, but when she opened them again she was in awe.

A crystal figure shimmered before her in the shape of a woman.  Everything about it was translucent and its dimensions seemed to be carved in a way to reveal a lady with long hair, a slender waist and large dress that poofed out around her hips.  The light shinned off it brightly as impressions in the figure made it shine more as the dust continued to fall off.  Estella was in awe and spoke to her mother, "You found this there?"

Marie blinked in surprise not knowing the figure shined so brightly after the dust was removed.  "Why yes."  She said, "I found that there but had no idea it was so pretty."

Estella smiled and looked inside the box again.  Still holding onto the figure, her eyes took note of something else.  With her free hand she gently tugged at a piece of old, brown paper and blew on it to free it from the dust.  Its rough edges rattled under her breath, but before her eyes stood words that she slowly read aloud:

Through dreams I found you a beautiful woman
And my arms yearned to hold you deeply within
A mystery you were, yet you stand here today
As the light in my life, that will forever stay
So today I pledge my soul to you
With love that's rare, bold and true
So keep the memory of this moment in time
And know in eternity our hearts will shine

"That's beautiful."  Estella said a little louder after reading the poem, "Mother did you search everything in the house?"

"No."  she said with a sigh, "It's dangerous in there I'm afraid."

Still holding onto the figure Estella stood up, "I'm going there.  I already know you don't want me to but you also know I'd go whether you want me to or not."

Marie didn't know if she approved of her daughter's honesty at this moment and sighed in response, "I don't want you to, if I shouldn't be there neither should you."

"Mother."  Estella focused her eyes intently on her, "I am more nimble than you and you know that.  If there's something that should be seen in the house than someone should go inside.  If I'm gone for more than an hour you can come inside and get me, does that make you feel better?"

"Only an hour?"

"Yes."  She affirmed, "Only an hour."

Marie gestured toward the backdoor that was already halfway open.  Beyond it was a green yard that beckoned Estella to go.  Smiling widely, she stepped through the dark kitchen and through the exit, anxious to see what lay beyond the grass beneath her feet.
 

The yard was wide and welcoming as she stepped away from her mother's house.  The air was a bit warm, but peaceful as a gentle breeze blew over her body.  A bit of humidity was evident in the air, but she did not focus on the weather long.  Looking ahead she saw what she came for.  A tall, two story house stood in the distance and she winced in disbelief.  Taking a step closer, she stopped wincing and it came into clear view.

The walls outside were gray with only a few flakes of white paint left over from earlier years.  There were no glass inside the window panes save for a few shards that held onto the frames.  A series of columns stood tall to hold the second floor, but their strength withered in time as they were now composed of rotting wood which caused the structure to warp and bend a little.  She sighed as she thought what a grand building this must have been a long time ago.  Putting the thought aside she carefully stepped onto a small series of warped steps that led to a dark entrance.

Ivy clung to the doorway, the only evidence of life as she walked into a dark hallway.  The entrance only held one door where there should have been two, and the one left there was barley able to stand on its rusty hinges. She was surprised that the steps didn't break beneath her feet and even more surprised the floor held her weight.  The broken windows let in some light and not to her surprise, some holes in the floor appeared ahead of her.

But she still looked around to see if there was anything left to salvage from the old plantation.  At this moment she saw nothing but more broken windows and a large wooden staircase that led to the second floor.  From a distance it seemed sturdy enough and even seemed more white than the grays walls outside.  The paint wasn't subject to the same conditions as the outside was…so perhaps it was safer to climb upstairs.

She pondered the thought for a moment and still holding onto the crystal figure tight she stepped on the first step.  With much relief it held her weight well so she stepped again.  The wood creaked in response, but the stairway remained sturdy.  Smiling widely she continued on until she made it on the second floor.

A long hallway greeted her with darkness as she stepped from the stairway. Beneath her feet was a dusty rug colored in shades of pink and gray.  She didn't focus much on it but took a few more steps toward a window providing some light into the area.  Nothing was illuminated well in this part of the house so the staircase leading downward seemed more inviting.

Blinking once more she tried to get a better view of things before leaving.  As she shifted she heard the wood beneath her feet creak a little, but not as much as before.  Her curiosity rose and she took another step back.  For no apparent reason the wood seemed to be more firm beneath her feet.  At that moment she looked down and gasped in shock.  The rug that was once pink and gray, was now bright red embroidered with golden designs from bright thread.  She blinked again, not able to believe what she saw and turned around to suddenly see the windows in the hallway fixed!

She took a step back, not able to figure out how the scene changed so quickly.  It was still dark here, but not as dark as before.  A few paintings could be seen along the walls of nature settings and two beautiful women surrounded by children.  "What's going on here?"  she asked in disbelief.  What she didn't expect was to get an answer.

“I don’t know.”  Came an unfamiliar voice, “But I haven’t seen you before.”

Estella turned to look at a tall man.  His features were indeed handsome, as his face was young looking and held a clear complexion.  His dark brown eyes were quite beautiful, if not a bit confused while looking at her.  His clothes were ones she had never seen before though, save in books about Louisiana history where old gentlemen were depicted from an older era.  His trouser dark and clean shirt dark as well, the design was cut differently and accentuated by a red velvet vest that covered his torso.  She couldn’t help but look at him for a while, then felt herself getting lightheaded.

“Of course, you haven’t, seen me before.”  She gasped and leaned against the wall, “Where am I?”  she said, as she felt faint and her eyes fluttered until she had to close them.

“You are in my home, but please try to relax.”  His voice sounded calm and soothing. Yet in her delirious state she turned away only to hear the sound of footsteps coming closer.  Looking behind her there were three women in the distance.  They all appeared in long, cotton dresses and their hair was pulled back in bonnets.  Each one was dressed in different colors of green, red, and blue but all three of them surrounded her and wrapped her in a blanket.  She didn’t protest and began to be led away from the wall.  Weary and delirious from the events, she closed her eyes as the women laid her to rest on a bed.
 

"Are you ok Miss?"  a masculine voice beckoned Estella to wake.  She began to flutter her eyes open and a man came into view.  He was the same one she encountered in the hall. "Are you ok?"  He asked, his tone revealed he was worried, but she managed to affirm with a slight nod.
 

They were in a small, white room.  For a brief moment it seemed nondescript until she noticed a small table where a large ceramic bowl stood.  Near the table a short woman rang out a small rag over the bowl.  The water droplets moved down her hands and wrists until the cloth itself stopped dripping.   Dressed in a blue cotton dress, her attire seemed casual if a bit old fashioned.  A bonnet of the same color covered her head and an apron made of white cloth fit her in a homely fashion.  She smiled and a set of rosy cheeks puffed to life as she spoke, "Feel better do we?"

Estella nodded and she sat up straight.  The bed she was in was soft and covered in loose fitting cotton sheets, but she still managed to move with ease in it and was thankful her natural dexterity was returning.

She kept a sheet around her as she shifted to get a better view of the room.  It wasn't very large but served as a nice place to relax.  A large window let ample light in the area yet she only took note of it briefly. Her attention shifted back to her hosts and the gentleman spoke, "What is your name?"

She quickly responded, "Estella."

"Estella?"  the woman replied, "That's an interesting name and I've heard of no one named Estella from these parts."

The man gave her a curious look, "I am the master of this plantation, John O'Loran, this is one of my servants Kendra.  If anyone lives in these parts I know of them."

Estella looked down at the floor.  She didn't exactly know how to respond as the situation seemed strange enough to her.  She never even knew where these people came from!  There was a brief moment of silence until Kendra took the rag and tilted Estella's face to look at her.  Changing the subject she said, "Why you're a pretty thing and quite distressed too." With gentle movements she pressed the cold face on her cheeks, "Let's get you dressed up and ask questions later, shall we?"

The question was directed at John even though Kendra did not look at him. He nodded and replied, "I'll wait outside.  It might be best she dress into something more..suitable."

Kendra slowly stood up and placed the rag into the bowel.  In little time the master had left the room and closed the door behind him.  Estella sighed and seemed quite confused, if not still delirious from the events.  Stretching a bit she moved the sheets off her body as a long dress was brought to her.

Its color was deep green and it was cut to enhance her slender waist and torso.  She stood up and slowly slipped it over her head.  Sure enough it fit perfectly and trailed around her hips and down to her ankles.  "It's rather long don't you think?"  she questioned as Kendra stepped behind her to button the outfit.

"Too long!"  Kendra exclaimed, "Why that's crazy, all dresses need to be this long.  My dress in only little higher because it's a work dress, no this outfit covers you nicely and looks wonderful.  Trust me."

She knew she had to for there was no mirror in sight.  With the last button in place she let her hair fall down behind her shoulders and opened the door to step out of the room.

John stood there a bit more relaxed than before.  He bowed his head in respect, "You must forgive me.  I can never resist a damsel in distress but I am still curious about where you came from.  Perhaps when your mind clears you can tell me more, but for now you are welcome in my home."

Estella bowed in return, "I am just as curious as you are, I have no idea how I got here I really don't, but hopefully we can find out."

"Ma'am."  He said firmly, "There is not another plantation out here for at least a days travel."

She sighed, "I don't know if I can explain it either then."  She muttered, "Please you must believe me I'm quite confused."

Her confusion was evident in her voice and hearing it he only felt pity for her.  "Well."  He said swallowing his pride, "You are welcome here until we figure it out."

She smiled and began to walk down the hallway.  It looked much like before with the same bright red carpet beneath her feet and a stairwell to her side.  She then paused for a moment and looked back to her host, "I think I remember something though."

His eyes lit up as she took a step closer to her, "What?"

"I remember coming into the house with a crystal figure.  There was no one here when I did though but I held onto it tightly.  It was so beautiful and looked like the shape of a beautiful woman.  I guess I dropped it in the hall because I don’t have it now."

His brow furrowed, "You're a strange one."  He said, "The only figure I know of which you speak of is one my mother had.  It's in a glass case in the ballroom and no one ever touches it."

She shook her head, "I don't know what's going on I really don't."

He gave her a strange look, "I will be back to see if the figure is still there, wait here."

She sighed as she saw him walk down the flight of steps at a rather fast page.  Nothing made sense and she tried to hold back her aggravation after he left.  But her aggravation led to curiosity as she saw something glimmer in the distance.

She took a step toward the object thinking it was just a trick of the light.  Then the crystal figure appeared and she smiled.  How could he of missed it?  Maybe he thought a figure like it was in the ballroom that was only like this one. It also made perfect sense to realize she must of dropped it down the hall during the attack.  Enough thoughts ran through her mind and she turned to take the staircase down to the first floor.

The steps were very sturdy and held her weight well.  The tops of the stairs were made of hard polished wood and the rail she touched was white and strong.  On the first floor was a carpet, much like the one in the hallway she came from, and two large white doors opened to the outside standing tight on shiny hinges.

In the distance she saw John and called out to him.  She had no idea why he didn't go to the ballroom but after taking another step toward the exit she saw he was talking to someone else.  Smiling she stepped through the door with the crystal figure in hand.  Then he disappeared.

When she first looked outside the door there was nothing but a large green field in front of her where John once stood.  Now there was a smaller yard where her mother's house could be seen.  She gasped and held onto her figure tighter than before, almost as if she couldn't believe what happened.  Then she slowly turned to look at the house.  It was not beautiful and well kept, but was the same house with gray walls and broken windows that she first saw.  Everything seemed to be a hallucination…or was it?
 

She shook her head and blinked her eyes.  This couldn't be happening.  All of a sudden she was whisked into another place and now she was whisked back home without warning.  Her mother's house, something she did not view from the outside when she saw John, stood in view and looked quite real.  She walked toward it slowly after turning to look back at the plantation again.   It still remained worn from the damage over the years just as she saw it for the first time.

She also looked down at her body to see she was wearing the same clothes she did before.  A short denim skirt and a denim blouse replaced the long green dress she thought she wore.  Estella blinked again and looked ahead to make sure she saw things correctly.  The house was still there with yellow walls and a few trees at its side.  Shaking her head again she moved ahead to see if her mother was inside.

After walking a short distance she opened the screen door to enter the kitchen.  Small as it was, it provided enough light to show a large table, twin sinks and a large refrigerator in a corner to her right.  Estella didn't pay much attention to it though and called out, "Mother!"  hoping to get a response.

"I'm here."  Her familiar voice called out from her right.  In that direction was a short hall that led to another room.  She heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing Marie, almost as if the strange series of incidents made her wonder if she was alright.  With a slight smile, she held onto the crystal figure and entered a small room.  A large bookcase was on the right wall filled with papers and books and across from that stood a large computer desk.  Upon it was Marie's computer.  She turned to look at her daughter and briefly gave her a nod before returning to the screen.  Her fingers ran over the keyboard and after clicking on the mouse a few times she pointed at the text in front of her.

"I found some information on the plantation behind us.  I've never heard of it in any of my books about Louisiana homes, but I found something here."

Estella looked at the screen eagerly as her mother scrolled down the page. It was obvious she found some Information on the Internet as the http address was seen in the box above.  While she continued to scroll, Estella couldn't help but ask, "How long was I gone mother?"

"Oh I don't know."  She said, "A few minutes maybe, you didn't stay gone for long.  I thought you were going to go into the house and look around. Obviously you didn't since you returned back so soon and I'm glad you decided to play it safe."

Estella was almost floored at the remark and standing behind her mother briefly held onto the back of her chair for support.  She could of sworn she went somewhere and was attacked and then laid to rest and invited to stay in a large beautiful plantation.  Her anxiety was interrupted by her mother as she pointed to the screen, "Here it is."  Marie said as she pointed to an image, "Some information I thought you might be interested in."

She gasped at the small picture next to a series of text from an article on the Internet.  There stood an old black and white photo of the plantation that looked like it was either restored or well taken care of.  The columns stood straight and the windows fixed.  A strange feeling of Déjà vu came over her at the image and her mother began to read the small article.  "The O'Loran plantation fell into disrepair in the early 1900s.  The owner, John O'Loran, died with no heir.  The closest relative he had was his sister who married a gentleman from South Louisiana.  A legend does point to a wedding that was to take place with a beautiful, strange woman.  No one knew where she came from or who exactly she was, but the master fell in love with her quite quickly and according to the story she with him.  For an unknown reason she disappeared and a few years later he died of a broken heart."

Marie scrolled down as she pondered the story, "Hmmm."  She muttered, "Still a pity that the house lay in such a state of disrepair.  I contacted the historical preservation society and they'll be over soon.  With what they said they're probably going to tear the house down soon."

Estella shuddered at the thought.  For some strange reason she already felt a connection to the house and cringed at the thought of anything happening to it.  Yet her curiosity still led her to watch the screen as a few other images of the house came into view.   They were just different angels of the building and didn't grab her attention as much as a sketch below them.  There was a small picture of a man who looked very familiar.  The text below read, "Sketch of John O'Loran, artist unknown."  The features between the man who saved her and the drawing were identical.  Estella shuddered and stepped away from the computer for a moment.  She was certain of one thing….she was going back.
 

She held the crystal figure in her hand and took a step away from the computer, "Mother."  She said in a calm tone, "I think forgot something outside when I went to go into the house."

Marie turned and gave her daughter a curious glance, "Forgot what?"

"Nothing important Mother."  She said as she stepped into the hallway that led to the kitchen, "But I'll be right back."

Marie began to stand as her daughter walked into the kitchen.  Knowing she was quicker, Estella called out again, "I'll be right back."  And quickly ran outside, ignoring the fact Marie was a bit curious, if not concerned by her actions.

After slamming the screen door behind her she quickly walked to the large plantation house.  Its walls were still gray and windowless but that did not stop her approach.  Pausing for a moment she looked at the doorway as the last door stood on the last rusty hinge, "There's something strange about you."  She said aloud to the house, but not to much surprise it did not respond, "Something did happen here and it happened to me."

Again there was no response but she walked through the door with the crystal figure in hand.  The walls around her were gray as she looked to get a better view of things.  Nothing changed until she heard music in the distance.

She raised an eyebrow and began to walk down a dim hall.  After a few steps she noticed the scenery began to change.  The floor once composed of rotting wood now donned a red carpet under shiny brown wood.  She gasped as it changed and looked at the walls.  They were now lit by a few candles and illuminated white walls.  She looked at her feet and above them was the same green dress she wore when she met John.  She started to tremble then took a deep breath as she realized she was back in the same setting where she met John.  She looked in front of her and in the distance she could see a few figures.  Taking a deep breath she approached them and stepped into a large room.

The figures from the distance were three men and two women.  One she recognized as Kendra from before who giggled as she spun around in the arms of a taller man.  His hair was gray and his clothes were not very fashionable, being made of an old, white cotton shirt and a pair of trousers with patches in various places.  Estella noted the other people as a man and a woman, who played a piano and a guitar.  They were dressed as the others and their music was fast which made Estella smile, but she paused as she saw John walking toward her.

She nodded in greeting and he bowed his head in response.  "You were missing for a bit but I came back to the ballroom.  I thought I saw you for a brief moment when I was outside talking to a friend, then you just disappeared."

"Disappeared?"  she asked as she stepped closer to him, "What do you mean?"

"I mean I saw you walking out of the door and then you just vanished…I thought I was hallucinating.  Now that you're here you've proved I was."

She sighed, "I'm confused as well, I've never seen this house look this way before…scenes keep changing I don't understand."

John approached her and extended a hand.  His brow furrowed briefly to reveal confusion but he spoke to her in a comforting tone, "You have been through a lot, maybe through your condition you remember things that never happened or may even be suffering amnesia."

She sighed a bit but took his hand, "I don't know, maybe you are right, but I don't remember coming from here.  I remember going to college and driving my car to see my mother."

"Car?"  John questioned as he led her farther away from the music where he could hear her better, "What do you mean by car?"

"Car, it's an old Honda but works well enough to get me home."

He shook his head, "I don't understand what you mean by car or Honda."  He replied, "I've never heard of those words before."

She paused and at that moment dropped the crystal figure in shock.  John heard it fall to the ground intact and picked it up slowly.  He examined it and was about to ask her something until she asked, "What year is it?"

"Why it's 1834, that's an odd question to ask.  But where did you get this figure?  I have one just like it on the mantle of the fireplace in this room."

She did not answer but shook her head in disbelief, "No, it can't be 1834, it just can't be.  This doesn't make any sense, I was born in 1972."

The others noted Estella's frightened expression and the music slowly ended.  Kendra stopped dancing and slowly approached her with sympathy in her eyes, "Are you ok Dear?"

"No, I'm not ok."  Estella trembled as she edged to the door, "I was born in 1972, this isn't happening and I can't be here!"

"Shhh."  John extended his hand to her after she let go of his and backed away, "We're here to help you."

"I don't need your help I need to go home!"  she shouted and ran out the door.  Everyone watched with a confused expression on their faced and Kendra told the others, "It's ok.  I'll find her."
 

Estella ran to the stairs and sighed deeply.  Fists balled in rage, she tried to gain control of her anxiety but it was to no avail.  Kendra came behind her and quickly put a gentle hand on her shoulder, "You've been through a lot dear."  She muttered, "Perhaps you should rest."

"I don't belong here!"  Estella screamed, "This is not my time!"

Kendra lowered her voice in a very soothing tone, "Shhh."  She patted her gently on the shoulder again, "Let's go rest, believe me you'll feel better afterward."

Estella slowly wiped a few tears from her face and began to follow Kendra upstairs, "I don't belong here, I belong with my mother…in her new house."

"Where is your mother and where is her house?" Kendra asked after they took the last step.

"In front of this house."

Kendra merely shook her head, "You poor dear, you really need to rest.  There is no house there, you're seeing things that don't exist."

Estella was about to say something but decided to keep her thoughts to herself as she was led into a familiar room.  Already the sun began to set and the bed there looked inviting as it was before.  Kendra gestured for her to lay down and after getting comfortable Estella felt the sheets move up over her body.  She sighed softly and wanted to protest laying down, but the servant was right and in moments Estella felt sleep claim her.

Nothing could be seen, but something could be heard.  Estella blinked a bit, trying to discern the darkness around her but only ended up wrapping her arms around herself as she tried to recognize her surroundings.  She winced, as if to try to get a better view of the area.  As time past she continued to look around and finally, out of the darkness stood the crystal figure.

It shimmered brightly, though the source of the light around it could not be found.  Reaching forward she managed to pick it up and heard an unfamiliar voice recite an enchanting poem:

One in past, one in future
Collide in a common place
Then time shifts and will allow
To bring lovers face to face
Then recognition will appear
And both figures will return
Back to the rightful time
When the fire of love is burned
And the flame will finally last forever
As loneliness falls apart
And lovers will feel the present
If the future place remains unmarked
So if the crystals remain together
Or the house continues to stand
So will their lives grow and flourish
With love between woman and man

She hinged on each and every word as she heard the voice.  It didn’t sound very masculine or feminine, but relayed the poem in a slow, yet lyrical manner.  Then the darkness around her subsided and Estella began to wake up.  The white room on the second floor appeared just as she had left it.  It was a dream and time to wake up, but every line in the poem was etched in her memory.  Blinking her eyes open, Estella slowly rose from her bed.  The words in the poem formed themselves into a strong cadence that couldn't be forgotten.
 

The words still lingered in her mind and she slowly stepped out of the room.  Sighing softly, she moved down the hall and back to the staircase. There was no telling what time it was, but it was already night and a few candles lit the walkway where the stairs began.  Thankful for their light, she stepped down slowly and grabbed the banister for support.  She didn't feel weak, but was still confused as the words from the poem were still etched in her mind.

The last step squeaked beneath her feet and she moved to head toward the ballroom.  To little surprise, candles and oil lamps lit the hall to the entrance.  Though most servants were asleep, someone normally stayed to keep the rooms visible during the night.  She wondered if it was Kendra, but was a bit surprised to see who was still awake in the ballroom.

John looked up as she entered and nodded in greeting.  She thought for sure he would be asleep but wasn't distressed when she found her thinking was wrong.  She bowed her head in greeting and he quickly approached.  When she moved his head to meet his gaze, she could see a deep longing in his eyes.

"Why are you up?"  was her first question, "I know I've been feeling strange so I've not been sleeping well, I didn't expect to see you awake."

"Well someone has to keep the candles lit."  he smirked for a moment, yet she could tell he was trying to hide something and continued to watch his expression in an effort to figure it out.

For a few seconds their eyes locked and the words of the poem repeated themselves over and over in her mind.  She blinked and shook her head in an attempt to break to stare, but looked back at him and without warning spoke, "One in past, one in future, Collide in a common place. Then time shifts and will allow, To bring lovers face to face. Then recognition will appear, And both figures will return, Back to the rightful time, When the fire of love is burned."

The stare became more intense and John found himself reciting the next stanza, "And the flame will finally last forever, As loneliness falls apart, And lovers will feel the present, If the future place remains unmarked."
 

Estella's eyes grew wide as he spoke, but before she questioned why he knew the poem, she said, " So if the crystal remain together, Or the house continues to stand, So will their lives grow and flourish, With love between woman and man."

John's eyes grew wider than before and his breaths became ragged.  Gasping for a brief moment he asked, "Who are you?"

She found herself trembling and even found his anxiety to affect hers, "I...I don't know anymore.  I'm here now from another time, or am I a lost woman hallucinating?"

"My God."  he reached out a hand to touch her face, "That poem has been in my head for as long as I can remember, but I never told anyone else the words..and never thought anyone would know them."

She shivered a bit at his touch but found herself moving closer.  "I..I don't know what to say, I just woke and it was in my mind.  Now I can not get rid of the words."

"Yes."  he said and smiled a bit, "But if you could get rid of the words would you really want to?"

"No."  he muttered as she continued to look at him.  For some reason she felt an attraction, a deep attraction that persuaded her physical form to align with his.  Her breaths became ragged in anxiety and then she realized she was connected to John on a level she never experienced before.  It was something that could not be explained on a rational level but looking into his eyes she knew they suddenly possessed a bond that caused her lips to move to his.  In seconds he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight and their lips parted to form a kiss deep, loving and intense.
 

Estella's eyes fluttered open as the morning rose.  Breathing deeply, she found herself awake in John's arms.  Stirring a bit, she woke John as well whose eyes opened wide at holding her tightly.

"Oh my."  He muttered, "We better not let the servants find us like this."

She giggled at the comment and moved to look into his eyes, "And why not? I'm enjoying this."

John responded with a smile and began to stand up, "I didn't say I didn't enjoy it my dear, just such actions of affection are not proper until.."

"Until what?"

His brow furrowed at her question, "You're a strange one.  Do you not know it's improper for a young woman to express affections so openly until she is married?"

Married…the word would otherwise send her into shock but as John said it she wasn't scared at the word for some reason, "And what are you implying gentle Sir?"  she muttered moving closer to him.

He already stood above her and extended a hand to help her up.  Once she stood to meet his gaze their eyes locked again and he whispered, "I never realized how beautiful you are."

She blushed in response and he found himself moving in to kiss her again. The attraction was strong but he managed to restrain himself for a moment, "I do you no honor my dear, I should not advance in such a manner."

She smirked, "You do not see me complaining."

"And I feel another compulsion."  He said and began to kneel in front of her, "This is fast..so very fast but I can't tell you how right it feels."

Estella froze for a moment and watched him.  Already a strong bond grew between them but could he be serious?  Could he really want to marry her so quickly?  She thought about the time she was in and realized that often court ships could be short.  Regardless she couldn't deny the bond she felt and felt her heart leap as he said, "I am a lonely man Estella, and I want to honor you.  Would you be my wife?"

She extended a hand to him and helped him rise.  A rush of emotions expressed themselves in a confused countenance but she slowly began to nod in response.  John smiled widely and to confirm the engagement he pressed his lips tightly against hers, melding his essence with hers in a sweet, deep kiss.
 

The days passed and Estella and John quickly found themselves anxiously awaiting their wedding.  To others, the union seemed to be rushed but to them they couldn't wait any longer.  In such a short time they proved to themselves that they had a bond no one could break, more or less comprehend.  Finally the day came when they were to sanctify their union and the entire plantation quickly prepared for it.  Floors were scrubbed, food was prepared, and guests from every nearby home attended to watch the happy couple.  Being ushered by the servants, everyone was led into the ballroom which was lined with red carpets and a priest that stood on the far side of the room.

He wore black robes, typical dress for a priest and flipped the pages of his book as John approached.  His handsome face smiled at the minister and the crowd took note of how finely dressed the plantation owner was.  His dark coat was crisp and clean and the shirt underneath was well pressed and ruffled out from his cuffs and from the inside.  His trousers were the same color as the coat as were his shoes that were polished gleam as he stood tall.  A large smile came over his face and he nodded to the priest who in turn nodded back and gestured to the door of the ballroom.

Estella stood there alone, no one to give her away as custom had it.  Still she was radiant in a long white flowing dress revealing the innocence of a perfect bride.  An assortment of flowers were held by her delicate hands yet they hardly rivaled the beauty of her smile as she moved to stand beside John.  The couple finally stood side by side and looked toward the priest as the ceremony began.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of …"  the priest's monologue continued to announce the purpose of the gathering but Estella found it hard to focus on the words.  Her thoughts came back to John who she wanted to touch and hold so much.  Nothing else mattered except that their union become official.  As if in a daze he reached for her hand and she blinked.  Overcome with excitement at his touch, she listened intently as he spoke his vow:

“Through dreams I found you a beautiful woman
And my arms yearned to hold you deeply within
A mystery you were, yet you stand here today
As the light in my life, that will forever stay."

Those words seemed so familiar and she blinked for a moment then tried to recall them.  Then like a brick it hit her, this was the poem she found in her mother's house.  She gasped when she realized this and started remembering more things from her past.  Shaking her head in disbelief she tried to forget her mother's house, tried to forget her old life in the future and tried to imagine her life now.  John could easily tell the distress on her face and squeezed her hand as if to show support.  She sighed then gathered her strength.  With a smile she nodded for him to continue…then things started changing.

For a few moments the entire room disappeared then reappeared again.  One moment the people were there, then no one was.  She gasped again and tried to focus but found herself unable to concentrate.  The entire ballroom was disappearing!  Suddenly, without warning Estella stood in her mother's backyard in her old clothes from her own time with everyone gone.

"No."  she shook her head in disbelief, "This can't be happening!  What's going on?"  she yelled.  She stood on brown, dried grass and couldn't see anyone except a bulldozer that pushed over beams of old rotten wood.  The plantation outside of her mother's house was destroyed.
 

“I can’t believe this, where is my husband!”  she screamed.  Though her voice was loud, no one in the near vicinity heard her as their senses were drowned out by the rattle and hum of the bulldozer.  She wrapped her arms around herself and winced.  Just a few moments ago she was with John, exchanging their eternal vows of love before everything changed.  Then she remembered the two lines in the poem from her dream, ‘And lovers will feel the present, if the future place remains unmarked.’  The old antebellum house was more than unmarked, it was destroyed!

Tears began to flow down her face that was red with anxiety and fear.  What happened to John?  She fell in love with him on such a deep level in such a short time, she shivered as she tried to imagine life without him.  ‘He can’t be gone.’  She muttered to herself, ‘He just can’t be.”  Her footsteps were uneasy as she continued to deny the truth.  Like it or not, she was brought back to her own time.

Another deep breath led to a deep sob.  It was hard to control her emotions now and her anxiety only caused her to wrap her arms around herself tighter.  Muttering more words of denial, she continued to walk in no particular direction until she heard her mother’s voice call out, “Estella!”

Knowing right where the house was, she started to walk toward it.  Her movements were still very slow but after a long moment, Marie came into view.  Estella’s face was red and drenched with tears which quickly made her ask, “What happened to you?  Are you alright?”

Estella shook her head to answer her and in a few seconds Marie embraced her daughter in a warm hug.  “I’ll ask later, a few strange things have been happening around here.”

The young woman took another deep breath, “Yeah, I guess you can say that.”  She stumbled to focus her thoughts and emotions.  Clinging onto some explanation she replied, “I think I just woke up, from a beautiful dream.  I really didn’t want to wake up from it.”

“Well you were gone for a few hours this time and when I went outside to look I couldn’t find you.  Something had my attention though.  I was reading that article about the history of the plantation, then when I came back to read it, the story changed completely.”

Estella wiped a few more tears from her eyes, “What do you mean, changed completely?”

“Well, when I first read it, it said that the master of the house died years later, not knowing what happened to his lover.  Then it seemed that both of them disappeared, never to be heard of again.  It’s strange and hard to explain, but that’s not all.  A few minutes later there was a knock on the door.  I went to go answer it, and it was this handsome man dressed differently from anyone I’ve seen, and he was looking for you.”

The two of them took a step closer to the house, “Looking, for me?”  she asked, “And where is he now?”

Marie opened the door and led her daughter inside, “Waiting for you.”

Estella looked up and standing a number of feet away from her was John.  His clothes were the same on his wedding day.  Estella quickly took a few steps closer and gasped in shock.  Her surprise quickly led to happiness as she jumped forward and flung herself into his arms.

“So you two, really know each other then?  How come I never met this gentleman before Estella?”  Marie’s tone was not a cruel one, but more concerned and inquisitive.  The two didn’t answer her though and began to whisper to themselves.

“You’re here..in my time.”  She told him where only he could hear, “But how?”

“That poem was in my mind for many years.  I’ve always heard it in my dreams and I think I finally figured it out.  The crystal figures were somehow figures there were able to fold time and allow two soulmates to be together. Those soulmates are you and I.  Yet since you had the figure from the future and I had the figure from the past, the house needed to remain intact in the past so we could be together.  You disappeared right from everyone’s sight while we were getting married.  No one could explain it but something told me to find the two figures and put them together, side by side.  Upon doing so I found myself in your time.”

She began to pull back from him a little, “This is, so incredible, and you figured it all out!”

“Figured what out?”  Marie said still watching the two.  She wasn’t angry, but it was evident she was tired of being confused.

Taking John’s hand she walked closer to her, “There’s a lot to explain Mother, and we’ll do our best to explain it all. I might even be able to figure it out or understand everything.  Yet what is important is that I do know we will all be happy from now on, all three of us.”