The earth that had been filling Beauty's hands was suddenly gone. No. No, that wasn't exactly it; the earth she'd had in her hands was still there. She was still kneeling. But the earth under her was gone. Replacing it was a very familiar wood floor. Beauty squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again.
I could show you incredible things Magic, madness, heaven, sin
She was in her living room. Her cottage living room. Her home. In the other room, a radio was blaring Taylor Swift. Beauty stood quickly, then rushed to the door to toss the earth out into --
-- into the nighttime lavender beds that filled the whole front yard with its gorgeous scent. Beauty took a deep, long breath, and then exhaled, and then did it again. Was she...
Home. Home! She was home!
"Megan?" she called out over her shoulder. "Megan! Are you here? Megan!" Her hands were still filthy. She rubbed them off as quickly and as thoroughly as possible and then raced back inside. Her kitchen with its yellow curtains! The table set for two! The perfect mess in the living room that meant that Megan had been through. Everything was exactly as she remembered. There was a bottle of hot pink nail polish on the kitchen counter by the dish drainer, and she caught sight a magenta sweater top on the back of the couch.
"Megan!" Her heart was in her throat, and she couldn't stop smiling. Were they home? Were they both home?