Snow

 

Scotland

 

castle

 

text

 

_test

 

erase

 

_believing

 "You know, it's funny," Alice mused, stirring her coffee with a spoon, "how a single word can change everything."

Her friend, Rachel, looked up from her book, curiosity piqued. "What word?" she asked, setting the bookmark in place.

"'Believe'," Alice replied, her eyes glazed over as she stared into the depths of her mug. Rachel raised an eyebrow, waiting for Alice to elaborate.

Alice took a deep breath, her words coming out in a rush. "My grandma used to say that if you believe something enough, it'll come true. Like a magic spell or something." Rachel nodded, intrigued by the sudden seriousness in her friend's tone.

The two of them sat in a quiet corner of the café, the hum of conversation and clinking of cups providing a gentle backdrop to their conversation. It was a place they often frequented, a small oasis of calm in their otherwise hectic lives. Rachel leaned in, her curiosity growing. "What's brought this up?"

Alice took a sip of her now lukewarm coffee, her mind racing with thoughts she hadn't shared with anyone. "I had this dream last night," she began, her voice low and measured. "It was so vivid, I could almost feel it. Like I was actually there." Rachel's eyes widened slightly, encouraging her to continue.

"In the dream," Alice went on, "I was in a field of flowers, and there was this...this presence. It told me something that I just can't shake off." She paused, her grip tightening around the mug. "It said that if I truly believe, I could find a way to save my brother." Rachel's heart skipped a beat. She knew Alice's brother had been in a coma for months, the doctors unsure of his chances for recovery.

The bell over the café door jingled as a gust of cool air rushed in, bringing with it the scent of rain. The first droplets pattered against the windows, blurring the view of the street outside. Rachel reached out and took Alice's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "What did it say you had to do?" she whispered, her voice filled with concern.

Alice's gaze snapped back to the present. "Find something called 'The Luminous Stone'," she said, her voice barely audible. Rachel's eyes searched hers, trying to gauge if she was serious or if the stress of the coma was getting to her.

"What's that?" Rachel asked, her curiosity now mixed with a hint of skepticism.

"I don't know," Alice admitted, "but I have to try." Determination etched her features, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Rachel nodded, unable to argue with the hope that had sparked in her friend's eyes.

The rain grew heavier, the drops becoming a torrent that obscured the world beyond the café windows. It was as if the universe itself was echoing the tumultuous emotions swirling around the table. Rachel leaned back, her mind racing with questions, but she kept them to herself. For now, she knew Alice needed her support more than anything else.

Their conversation drifted to lighter topics as they watched the rain, the tension in the air slowly dissipating. But Rachel couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were about to change in ways they never could have imagined, all because of a simple word: believe.