Chapter twenty-four

Zeke was slowly turning into a guide, a hero. He realized being a hero, though, wasn’t about acquiring supernatural physical powers or saving the world from some great big monster. Being a hero meant changing the world around him, one person at a time, by helping others kill the monsters on the inside and hearing the voices of their souls through his healing touch.

His first tool, the magical power of words, had helped him bring a change in a dear friend’s life. Now, he was ready to learn more. He was looking forward to more cosmic experiences and guidance from his friends, Zig, Zag, and Zoom. He waited anxiously to collect more of their wisdom and to use it. Yet, there was some sadness in him, too. Zoom’s sudden departure had left him feeling upset. Christmas was fast approaching, and he was slowly accepting the fact that his birthday fell on Christmas Day, and to be that closely aligned with Jesus Christ (a hero of the highest order) was something to be shared and celebrated after all.

It had been a good year for him, one of joy and plenty, which made him believe that it was God’s way of telling him to prepare for something great that was about to come. His heart was growing fuller as his secret wishes were being fulfilled. Christmas Eve finally rolled around, and Kai was planning to leave for Boston early next year.

This was going to be his last Christmas spent on Farley Street, so Kai threw himself a party at home, inviting all his friends and a few close neighbors like the Tartals. Ben came straight from his garage, where he now lived almost all the time. It felt like a reunion for the whole neighborhood after a very long time. It brought back many memories, and with those memories, came pain.

Being there made Zeke feel a strange heaviness in his chest. He had started to believe that he had gotten over the pain of Nora’s death, but being there at that party brought back all those memories. The whole house had been lit with colorful and festive lights, inside and out. Amid the celebrations, he suddenly saw her. It was Zoom. He saw her through the window, standing in the snow-covered backyard, smiling at him in a beautiful, long fur coat. She had Zig and Zag sitting on her shoulders. He was delighted to see her again and ran towards the back door to sneak outside.

“Zoom, I… you’re here! I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I came to wish you a merry Christmas, a very happy birthday, and to promise you a magical new year, Zeke. I can’t stay for long, but I’ll be back soon,” she whispered, and literally vanished before he could say anything, leaving him confused but still happy.

He was glad to see Zoom back on Earth. It left him so unbelievably optimistic that he became fully present at the party and paid close attention to both Gael and Kai, who had been trying to get him to open up for a while. The next few hours were the happiest time the residents of Farley Street had spent together in years.

As they all laughed and reminisced, Lydia suggested they revisit Boyne Mountain Resort for purposes of closure. She knew it was a place that was linked with everyone’s trauma, and she wanted both families to heal, especially her sons. Though Ben and Audrey were originally hesitant, they agreed to the idea after Lydia talked to them in detail, and so the plans were made.

Zeke had gained enough knowledge to look past the ordinary. He knew meeting Zoom was no mere occurrence; a higher force was at work. He knew nothing could be left unfinished in his life, not even unresolved emotions. He knew that before he could begin his mission of dealing with the pain of others, he had to resolve his own past wounds.

The next few days at Boyne Mountain were an overwhelming experience for everyone. Mr. Copeland had a breakdown. He cried uncontrollably, and although he could not say a single word, Zeke knew exactly what he was feeling. He was the only one who knew that this helpless man’s tears were tears of repentance and grief.

Lydia made every attempt to make Kai understand there was still a place for him at home. She made a push for him to stay, but it was no use. He had made up his mind. He told her that he was thankful and would always remain thankful for all she had done, but he simply couldn’t grow as a person if he stayed in Mackinaw. He explained to her that this was the only way he could accept his pain and move on, and she listened.

In the end, she gave him her blessing and accepted that she couldn’t hold him back. Gael had a similar emotional experience. Thanks to Zeke, he learned to let go of his pain and his anger. He had evolved as a person, and returning to the place where his life began to fall apart helped him find pieces of himself. He had been slowly putting himself back together for years, and now at the resort, he reconnected with his father. He helped and cared for him, and in doing so, he learned to let go of everything.

It was a time of growth for the Tartal children, too. Maya was still in her own cocoon, and her aloofness concerned Zeke. He tried to talk to her, and in many ways, he did help her to understand that life wasn’t like the fantasies in which she had chosen to live. But eventually, it was Leia who got through to her. Despite being twins, the sisters had never really been terribly close, but they understood each other.

It was the most overwhelming experience for Zeke. Every minute at Boyne reminded him of the last days he had spent with Nora. Those memories were bringing up emotions he thought he was done with. As the new year came around, everybody was back in the mood to party — everyone except Zeke, that is. That place made him relive his most traumatic memories, and it gave rise to a deep-rooted fear he had carried for years — the fear of losing the people he loved, the fear of death, and the fear of having to face another dark year ahead. Gael and Kai had to constantly force him to come out of his room, but he just wanted to run away from everything, especially the party.

Eventually, they all gathered for the New Year’s gala at the same hall where he had seen Nora for the last time. That was when he saw her. Zoom was there, and she was smiling at him. He was stunned to see her dressed in the same beautiful evening gown Nora had worn the night of her death. She had an ethereal smile on her face, and her skin glowed with a divine aura. She mouthed, “I love you,” blew him a kiss, and waved goodbye. Then she vanished into thin air. Zeke just stood there, stunned.

After a short while, his mind began to play tricks on him. Like Nora, he heard voices that told him she was gone for good. She had also suddenly disappeared just like Nora, and just like Nora, she would never return. Zeke’s fear closed in on him as he felt his heart beating faster. He couldn’t feel the air in his lungs, and a constant voice was telling him that he would lose Zoom just like he had lost Nora. He looked for her in every corner of the ballroom. He ran out of the hall and began searching for her all over the resort, but there was no sign of her.

“If I never see Zoom again, even if this is the end of our love in this life, I will meet her again in another. Ezekiel and Ezra will always meet again,” he affirmed. Zeke understood the power of his own light, and thus, fear had no place in his heart.

As he rose from the shadows of his fear, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and with it came a feeling of relief. As he turned around, she stood there, lovelier than ever, with a smile on her face.

“Hi!”

“Zoom! Where have you… why on earth would you do something like that? That was not funny. Do you have any idea how painful that was for me?” He was furious.

“It wasn’t pain, but fear. This was a test, my love, a trial of courage. You cannot be gripped by the fear of death forever. To be a true lightworker, you must transcend all fears and be free — and this test proved that.” She had such a calming smile. It eased and erased all his anger. “You had to face the worst of your fears, Ezekiel. You had to come to terms with the inevitability of death once and for all, and now you have passed your trial, but there will be others.”

“Others?” he tried to ask, but she cut him off.

“That is for another time. For now, let us live in this moment of joy. Let us make memories to celebrate your triumph.”

And so, they sneaked out of the party, found an empty banquet room and danced all night, away from the eyes of all. They held each other’s hands and were lost in each other’s eyes. At the break of dawn, they found themselves walking on the same snowmobile trail where Nora had died, and together they watched the year’s first sunrise as light began to rise on the horizon.

“You know, Zoom, I’m okay with all of it now. My fear of death is gone forever, and this awesome sunrise confirms it. The cycle of life continues whether we want it to or not.”

She held his hands and said, “I had promised you a magical New Year, Zeke, and I have kept my promise. You know I must leave now.”

“Will I ever see you again, Cinderella?” he relented with sad, moist eyes. “Or will I spend eternity chasing after you?”

“Yes, of course! How can I live without seeing you? We are eternally together, you and I,” she softly spoke.

“No, Zoom, I mean, will you ever return in this life?”

“This time, my love, it’s your turn to come and find me,” she smiled with a playful gleam in her eye.

“See what I mean about chasing after you? Where… and how will I find you?” he asked, looking deep into her eyes.

“In the land where the rivers flow and the floodgates are opened.Where the body never dies, and the dead can walk. Where the sun travels towards the timeless through the sky. Wait for me, and I’ll see you there.”

“How am I supposed to know what that means?” He held her hands, trying his best to hide his anxiousness behind a strong face.

“Fear not. We are the lion people. We are warriors. We are eternal, and we always have been. Just remember who you are, who we are, and you’ll find the way.” She smiled at him one last time, then she disappeared.