Robert stood at the shore with the lake erasing his feet in a pendulum motion. Three Corners Dune blocked the sun from his back like an enormous umbrella. This was his second holiday since Elizabeth Fenmore disappeared from the after-world. He gazed out towards the horizon as his heart ached from an overpowering sense of emptiness.

A search was initiated just after her disappearance. Hundreds of volunteers scanned the many dimensions of transport tunnels. No clues were available as to the disappearance of Jeanne Wishgiven, she vanished without a trace.

The search was officially abandoned, her contributions forever missed.

After a traditional ceremony, a golden plaque with her image and record breaking accomplishments was added to the commemorative wall of six thousand genies who had disappeared in action throughout history.

While Granny and the elders had given up hope, Robert had the uncanny sense that Elizabeth was calling him. If he tuned out the many distractions of his being, he felt that somewhere her heart was beating for him in the form of love. A flicker of hope unseen to the normal eye, but not invisible to his heart.

Robert stood for a moment recalling fragments of his last conversation with Elizabeth.

Lizzy had asked, "What happened after the accident to my parents, to yourself?"

"...When I noticed the auto lunging forward, I hooked myself to the bumper in a feeble attempt to drag it to a stop. In that instant I made a decision, a decision to follow you regardless of death."

Robert's gaze scanned the humans who were oblivious to his presence. A single tear streamed down his cheek as he released a gut wrenching cry.

"I will follow you Elizabeth! I will follow you no matter what obstacles are in between. You have my word and I will not fail!"

Granny materialized as a tower of water slammed onto her growing form. "She's gone Robert and it's time to move on."

"I'm going to find her..." Robert said through clenched teeth. "If it takes one hundred centuries, I will succeed!"

Granny nodded, but her doubt was apparent. "Then God be with you my friend."

A storm was grumbling somewhere past the horizon, a force unlike any that had ever been unleashed in either dimension. Robert savored this hint of unsettling and win or loose, he would find Lizzy. The strongest of steel, the toughness of oak, the boundaries of life...nothing would restrain him from finding his Elizabeth. If it meant following her to the ends of heaven, he would.

____________

Out of breath, out of time, a single point of light began to fade.

IN that instant between dimness and light, Jeanne became free. Her spirit lifted, no longer trapped as an additive to the brown glass.

Hovering inside the lava-diamond bottle, Lizzy held fast to her convictions. Reaching out, her hand snapped back as spark of power forbade the connection.

The tiny being of spirit floated like an astronaut at zero gravity.

"Can't go through it." Jeanne whispered, as tiny voices became audible from the many compartments around her. She was not alone and in this state of being, her fellow genies voiced their presence.

Elizabeth was overwrought with confusion. Was she hearing the voices of kindred spirits or was it a trick to convince her to give up?

"Robert!" She shouted, as the many voices fell away.

With her entire heart, with her innocent soul, her mind conjured images of surf, sand and beach. Three Corners appeared within her imaginings and the simple view of Robert on the shoreline faded in. Granny materialized to him and although she could not hear what was being said, just seeing the outside dimension brought her hope. With that, the dim light that was nearly extinguished, recharged.

"I can see you!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

With this new found skill came promise, with the vision of her love came life. Jeanne then realized that escape was a possibility. Granny had once said, "You all possess far more abilities than you can imagine."

A sly grin pursed Jeanne's lips as she realized where there is love, anything is possible.