The sparks of the fire flew up into the chimney. Its heat warmed the living room. Grandma's rocking chair creaked steadily.

"Ember Manuelle," Grandma said. She beckoned her hand to Ember. Ember crawled across the rug to her granma's knees. "I have something for you." Ember smiled.

"What is it, Grandma?" Her grandmother reached her hand up to the back of her neck and unclasped a silver chain. When she pulled the necklace off, the firelight glinted off the beautiful heart. Intricate loops and designs covered the locket.

"My grandmother gave this to me when I was just as young as you," she looked into Embers bright, hazelnut eyes. "Now, I am giving it to you. Treasure it." Ember giggled as she took the necklace in her small, childish hands. She rubbed her fingers over the designs, feeling every detail.

"I love it. Thank you, Grandma!"

Ember smiled as she cherished the moment. A tear rolled down her cheek as she rubbed the locket. Her grandma had died just a month ago, and Ember was heartbroken. Her grades were dropping in school and it was harder for her to stay focused on one thing at a time. But all her problems and sorrows went away when she listened to the radio with her best and only friend, Bianca. They would dance and sing off-key to their heart's content. Bianca's smile lit up the whole room, even the day of her grandma's funeral.

"Is there anything inside?" Bianca said. Ember looked up from her necklace.

"Just a picture of my grandma and grandpa on their wedding day. Do you wanna see?" Bianca nodded and scooched toward Ember on her bed. Ember opened the locket for the first time since the funeral.

"Wow," Bianca said. "You're grandma is beautiful."

"Was," Ember said. "She was beautiful." Bianca smiled.

"It's okay. She's in a better place now. Right?" Ember didn't answer. "Let's listen to some music!" Ember stood up and walked over to her phone and turned on their favorite station. The first two songs were some of their favorites, and they danced on the bed. Ember felt elevated. She jumped and screamed and laughed and sang. It was one of the happiest moments Ember had had since the funeral. But when the third song came on, Ember lost that feeling.

You can read my thoughts

You can feel my pain

You can be the rainbow after my rain

You can be the one

To comfort me

When I am falling and I am done

You will always

Be. My. Friend.

Bianca looked down at her feet. She didn't know what to say. Bianca knew very well that Ember's grandma would sing this song to her before bed and when Ember was feeling sad. Ember stood up and turned off her phone. "Radios these days, am I right?" Ember forced a chuckle. Bianca laughed along with her. Eventually, they were laughing for real. Real, side-splitting laughs. "I guess I can't be sad all the time. I mean, I just miss her, that's all." Bianca nodded.

"I completely understand. When my dad passed away, it felt like my whole world had been destroyed. I bet you feel the same way." Ember nodded.

"I don't really want to talk about it," Ember said quietly. "Next week my parents are donating everything that was in her bedroom. I was wanting to spend some time there. Maybe we could go dance in there?" Bianca stood up and nodded. Ember grabbed her phone as she followed Bianca down the hallway. They climbed down the stairs and opened the two wood doors that led to her grandma's bedroom. Ember walked in behind Bianca. Her grandma's rocking chair was still in the corner. It still smelled like her. The peppermint smell wafted up Ember's nose. Ember sat on the bed with Bianca.

"Can I see the locket one more time?" Bianca asked. Ember warmly smiled and opened the locket. Her grandmother's veil flowed out of the picture, and her smile was the same. "She is so-" Bianca was interrupted. Not by a voice, not by a sound either.

A blinding light emerged from the locket and formed a huge circle in front of Ember and Bianca. "Oh my gosh!" Bianca shouted. "What the heck is that?!" Ember was holding Bianca's arm.

"I don't know!" Ember looked at the locket. She could hear her grandma's voice, "Go through the light. Go through the light." Ember shivered.

"I think we need to get closer." Bianca opened her mouth and looked at Ember.

"Closer? To that? Why!" Ember looked back at the locket.

"Grandma wants us to." Bianca stuttered. Ember stood up and took a step toward the light. A strong wind grabbed her and started sucking her through. "AAAAAH! Bianca!!! Help me!!" Bianca immediately grabbed Ember's foot, but it was no use. The light pulled both of them inside.

***

Ember opened her eyes. She looked around. Everything looked the same. Her grandma's bed and desk, and her rocking chair. "What just happened?" Ember asked. She was filled with fear, but also with curiosity, just like her grandma told her when she was younger.

"I," Bianca took a deep breath. "Don't know. It doesn't seem like anything happened though." Ember reached her hand into her back pocket to grab her phone. But her back pocket was empty.

"Bianca, do you have my phone?" Bianca shook her head.

"Where is it?" Bianca looked around the room.

"Ember, I just realized, the light is gone." Ember hadn't realized that the only light in the room was coming from outside.

"Ummm, that's weird." Ember stood up and rubbed her hip. She landed on it after coming out of the light portal. Ember opened the door. Usually, her dad kept is electronic guitar, speakers, and microphones in the living room, but they weren't there. Instead, there was a regular guitar and flute case lying on the couch. Ember remembered her mom talking about playing the flute in high school, but she didn't know her mom still had it. Ember also realized that there was no light in this room either. Only natural light from the back door. "Woah," she said quietly. "What in the world? Where is all my dad's musical stuff?" Bianca's mouth gaped open.

"This is getting super weird. It's your house, but, not your house." Just as Bianca finished speaking, Ember's mom walked down the stairs.

"Honey, come deliver the mail, please! There's more than usual, and I want you to get it done before supper." Ember cocked her head.

"Deliver... the mail?" Her mom nodded.

"You do this every week, hon. Why are you so lost?" Ember then realized that this was not the same world she was in ten minutes ago.

"Oh, sorry. Just had a brain fart. I'll go deliver them right away!" Ember walked up to her mom and took the mail out of her hand. She beckoned for Bianca to follow her out the front door. The sun was going down, and it was getting dark. The street lights should've been on. "Why aren't there any street lights to illuminate the sidewalk?" Bianca shivered.

"Ember, remember how your phone disappeared?" Ember nodded. "And then, there were no lights in the bedroom or living room?" Ember nodded, slower than before, confused at what Bianca was saying. "And now, there are no street lights?" Ember furrowed her brow. "I think this is some other world that doesn't have electricity, at all." Ember exhaled.

"I think you're right! Remember how when we were little, Grandma would tell us stories about this world that was so simple and calm, and how she wished she could live there for the last few years of her life?" Bianca nodded. Ember paused and held back a tear from emerging her eye. "I think Grandma was talking about here. Maybe, just maybe, Grandma is still alive, here." Bianca shook her head.

"Ember, you know this is im-"

"This is not impossible!" Ember couldn't hold back the tears. "This world is completely different from the real one, so Grandma has to be alive. She has to!" Ember dropped the mail she was holding. "Anyways, a little hope can't hurt anything, right?"