Augmented Aspects: Interlude XII What is Magic? (Patreon)

Interlude XII

What Is Magic?

“Today we are on the scene with real live practitioners of Magic. That’s right, you heard it here. Whether you believe in the practices of magic or not, people are feeling a deeper connection to the world around them more so now than ever before. And the number one reason why there is so much attention on this archaic phenomenon is BiPrism, at least that is what has caused the greatest surge in the revival of everything from pagan rituals to outright unexplained supernatural phenomena.” A major news anchor began stating.

“What does this mean for you? Well magic is the number one trending topic this holiday season. Additionally, if you felt there was a rise in supernaturally themed blockbuster movies, well you wouldn’t be wrong.” A second news anchor added.

“That’s right, everything from sci-fi to rom-com movies all now have at least a hint of the supernatural in them. The more believable the supernatural flavor, the better they are received.” The first anchor added.

Click.

Tammie found herself turning off the television news, as her weary mind and body were unable to keep up with the topic being discussed. While it was better than the typical stories of bombings or wars happening, this story in particular didn’t seem to resonate with her drug addled mind.

Then again focusing for Tammie was the equivalent of trying to observe the world while holding your head under a constantly flowing waterfall. If she held still and focused long enough she could just make out certain characteristics and scenes that made sense, but these few moments of clarity were exhausting.

Take now for instance, where she looked around the room to see her daughter sitting in a meditation pose, her legs under her body. With her hands intertwined neatly.

Looking at her daughter, Tammie couldn’t help but let a smile fill her lips.

“Are you praying to God?” Tammie asked.

“Sort of,” Cassidy her daughter and prize of her life replied. As she spoke, Tammie couldn’t help but feel pride at seeing the way her daughter all but radiated life and vitality. If nothing else, then just knowing that she brought someone as beautiful as Cassidy into this world would be a crowning achievement for her.

“You’re sort of praying?”

“I guess you could call it that, though it is not to god” Cassidy clarified, her eyes still closed as parts of her body twitched as if feeling electrical impulses.

“If not god, then to whom do you pray?” Tammie asked, wondering what exactly was happening.

“I don’t pray,” Cassidy said, her eyes opening and filling the room with the green glow of her eyes. Eyes that feel like they are the eyes of a Disney Princess, one who has the world at her beck and call. “At least not like you are thinking. I just talk to great grandma.”

“Praying to your great grandmother?”

“In a way, yes.” Cassidy said, then getting up from her seated position she rose up and came over to Tammie’s side. As she got closer, several tubes and hoses coming from multiple machines prevented Cassidy from getting too close.

“How is grandma doing? It’s been a while since I got to see her and mother, is mother still alive?”

“Yes, they are both there.” Cassidy said, a slight tear forming in her eye. “Though you can’t join them. Not yet.”

“Oh, don’t worry. You heard the doctors. I’m in remission.” Tammie said, her voice tired but excited that things were finally getting better.

“I know.”

“Doctors are calling it a miracle. Whatever this new round of drugs they gave me are finally working. You saw the last scans. Even the larger lumps are finally receding.” Tammie said, soothingly, holding out her hand for Cassidy to hold her.

Cassidy fighting back tears just reached out her warm hands and covered Tammie’s much colder hand in her own.

Then feeling the warmth from her daughter’s touch made Tammie instantly relax, as finally everything felt like it was better.

“There we go, you are still the best thing I ever did in this life.” Tammie said.

With that Cassidy could only nod, not wanting to state anything to such a definitive statement. To Cassidy just acknowledging such a remark here, would imply that Tammie was done with achievements, that or it might somehow give her incentive to stop trying to do something better. As such, Cassidy changed the subject.

“Can I lie with you?”

“Of course.” Tammie said, then rolling onto her back, so that her right arm, the arm that was currently tube and monitor free was exposed. That’s when Cassidy crawled up like a small cat, and slowly but gracefully slid into the spot that she had filled every night for the past week.

At first Tammie had been opposed to this, as the pain caused by moving hurt, but knowing that she was nearing the end, she made an exception. Not even hissing out in pain as Cassidy's tiny arms wrapped around her waist.

Then the next morning she woke up feeling slightly better.

Though it pained her to see just how tired and exhausted little Cassidy looked each night, as it was clear this wasn’t that comfortable for her either. But still, Tammie would be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy these moments, and if she was to go, knowing that Cassidy was by her side each night did make the fear of the unknown just that much more acceptable.

What Tammie didn’t know, what the doctors were afraid to tell her was that she was no longer receiving treatments for her cancer. All that she was being prescribed now was pain pills to help alleviate the pain she was suffering. The fact that there was any sign of remission at all was shocking.

At first the medical staff was on edge, it was only once the nighttime orderlies came in, noting a bright green glow coming from Cassidy’s hands that were wrapped around her mother that word slowly spread.

First it was just rumors, then videos, and finally people in the know got wind of this and started paying for the medical treatments.

Yet, Tammie was blissfully unaware of all of that. All she knew was that she was being given a second chance at life, with her daughter, and this time she would not waste it. This time she would vow to spend more time with Cassidy, talking to her about everything that was happening in her life, about boys, and about what she was going to do with her life, once she became an adult. Of course, that was all far away. For now, Tammie was just content to enjoy these moments while she could.

Using her free arm to stroke at the hairs on Cassidy’s head, Tammie found herself asking. “So why do you pray to great grandma?”

“Because, she is the only one who always responds when I ask for advice.” Cassidy stated.

Hearing that, Tammie only nodded, the warmth of Cassidy being snuggled up next to her was filling her body with enough heat that she could relax her muscles if slightly.

“What do you ask her about?” Tammie found herself asking, her words sounding so distant in her mind, as she fought to remain conscious for just a moment longer.

“Mostly about life.” Cassidy answered.

“About boys?” Tammie found herself asking, curious if it was about time to have that conversation with Cassidy, and dreading the fact that she had grown up so quickly to even need to consider such a conversation.

“Talking about boys with great-grandmother?” Cassidy shot back.

Only after hearing the words that she spoke did Tammie actually laugh. “Yeah, sorry we know there was only one boy great grandma liked, and he broke her heart.”

With that Tammie felt part of her soul relax as the warmth of love from her daughter, and the chuckle made her finally relaxed enough to once again go to sleep. This time, unlike the last few times, Tammie was almost certain she would wake back up and get to spend another great day with her daughter. At least for now.

What she didn’t see, was the fact that after her eyes closed and her breathing regulated itself, a vibrant green glow could be seen illuminating the room.

There off in the distance, on the one visitor’s chair that was on hand, sat Cassidy’s tablet that glowed faintly with her streams to Cass still locked into place. The same ones that Cassidy used to learn about how to feel the flow of magic, about how to cast healing spells.

Then at the very bottom of the screen scrolled an unread ticker line that highlighted the trending stories and topics of the day for BiPrism, the most pressing of which was one that read. 82-year-old Robert Cruise Sr. joins son in world of BiPrism.