Sophie kept reading the book over and over in her island of peace. Outside the world moved but here, within her mind, she was at peace. Every word of this book felt simply delicious. Her favorite character was the White Queen, she did not have such a large role in the story, but her few words inspired her. Her favorite line was “I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

Impossible things were her bread and butter these days. A couple of years ago, she was asked to believe her father was alive, that her mother spoke to her, she was a chosen one with powers to name a few. Then things really got out of control. She was tired of this stupid story outside. This Attraction was just impossible things. As the doctor ordered, a door appeared and a tall old lady, theWhite Queen walked in. She had long white hair and the most exquisite costume. Sophie stood up and as she did, Alice’s long dress appeared. She bowed.

“Young lady,” snapped the Queen.

“Madam,” Sophie played along.

“What distress of yours I feel. Young girl, sadness fills your heart.” Sophie did not know what to say, she wanted to play the story but the answer had to address this real world. She just kept her head down. “You need help it seems.”

“I do.”

“Nothing is easier.”

“It is?”

“Yes silly one. Yes.”

“How so,” the young girl finally looked up.

“The only way to find something is to first lose it, no?”

“I guess.”

“What have you recently lost?”

Sophie’s mind raced. So many things trickled in. Finally she answered, “my capacity to see and care for simple things.”

“That is easy enough.”

“How so?”

“People ask of their queen many things, justice, compassion, time. Each person wants parts of me. Parents want me to touch their newborns. At first I would try, I struggled to and I was pained by those I was unable to help, not by the many I would help. By wanting to help, I hurt myself and felt powerless, incompetent.”

“That is how I feel. What is the solution?”

“Very simple. Stop doing what they ask of you. A Queen has a role, a different one. Find your role.” She removed her crown and placed it on Sophie’s head and headed back to the door.

“How do I find my role?”

The question surprised the Queen. “How easy.”

“What is it?”

“It is the one thing that brings you joy, true joy. What brings you joy?”

Sophie wondered as the Queen left and the door vanished.

***

She wondered what could bring her joy. She looked at the large book on her lap. She liked the gift, but that wasn’t it. She saw the image of her father, Malik, Liam and again, that wasn’t it. There was, simply said nothing that gave her real joy at the moment. She opened the book and decided to read it again. The story of the Attraction made no sense. None of it was relevant. There was something else at play, something the Multiverse needed her to do, a hidden thing. That was her purpose, to fix and heal the Multiverse. She had to find out what it was, but where to look.

She was a Queen, had a new role.

Who could have the answer?

Then she knew. Her smile returned.

The First Attraction. Liam had told her it had been successful.