As I open my eyes, I can see the outer world now. There is so much essence moving around. It’s hard to see anything. I feel like I am swimming in the murky pond outside of my house and trying to see the bottom. I know its there, my feet are telling me its there, but I can only catch glimpses of it…vague outlines of a rock…or it this case a forest.

“Pull back into your inner world, but don’t pull all the way back.” The guardian rumbles in my mind.

It’s sounds easy, but as I move back to my inner world…it feels like ice in winter, if I go too far I will slip and fall into the inner world.I need to work on the balance, on keeping my mind on both the inner world and the outer world.

It’s too much. I am slipping.

“Here, let me help. It takes time.” And with that, I feel…something like a hug…similar to when I was learning to walk, and my parents would hold my hands as unsteady steps were taken.

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I can see the outer world now. My view of the essence has been thinned, but it’s still there…just faded to transparent motes of multi-colored light.

As my focus returns, I can hear my dad behind me…with a release of anxiety, I didnt know I was holding, I turn around and jump into the arms of my father.

“Dad, are you ok?…are you healed?…can we get lunch?…or go home…we should go home”. The words stream out of my mouth. I can feel the innocence in those words, its not quite me…a child me…but the joy I feel from my father’s hug is enough to overcome any embarrassment of acting like a child…that I am.

As my dad consoles and answers every other question I put to him, my mind seems to disconnect from…well, from me.

In my mind, the bear’s voice rumbles again, “Easy, young Harry. Do not think this world is unreal, or illusion. This is a side effect of stepping into both worlds.”

“You are speaking better Mr. Bear.” My dad stops talking and pulls back from the embrace.

“Harry, are you still talking with the bear?” His look is mixture of awe and panic.

“Yes..uh, father. He is talking better now, so I was asking him why.”

I hear the chuff from the bear and even I giggle a little.

My dad pulls me back into his arms, but just I am about to relax and process all the things that have happened to me today…my dad whispers in my ear. Its so quiet, like the sound of cloth rubbing a table dry after work, or a breeze through grass.

“Harry…son…you and your friend must run. Don’t look back, or you will forever be a slave.”