The Pepperman and a Time Before

I OPENED A DOOR TO A TIME BEFORE, WITH DELUSION, MYSTERY AND SO MUCH MORE. THE SUN WASN'T SHINING BUT THERE WAS PLENTY OF LIGHT. I FELT TRAPPED IN A WORLD BETWEEN DAYTIME AND NIGHT. THE STREET LIGHTS HAD CANDLES, NONE OF THEM LIT. THAT THREW ME OFF, FOR A MOMENT A BIT. COBBLESTONE STREETS AND BUILDINGS OF BRICK. A STENCH IN THE AIR THAT WAS MAKING ME SICK. I LISTENED REAL CLOSE I HEARD SOMEONE WEEPING. IT SOUND LIKE THEY SAID IT'S THE SECRETS I'M KEEPING. I LOOKED UP THE STREET SAW PEOPLE WALKING ALONG. I RAN TO THAT SPOT AND FELT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I STOOD IN THAT SPOT WITH MY BACK TO AND ALLY. I HEARD A GIRLS VOICE SAY MY NAME IS SALLY. I TURNED AROUND AND WITNESSED A FLASH. I LOOKED TO THE GROUND AND SAW A PILE OF ASH. I HEARD PEOPLE LAUGHING, IN BACK, TO MY RIGHT. I SPUN AROUND QUICKLY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN SIGHT. I STROLLED DOWN THE STREET AND THOUGHT QUAINT LITTLE TOWN. WHAT REALLY SEEMED STRANGE, THERE WAS NO ONE AROUND. I STROLLED THROUGH THE PARK TO TAKE IN THE SIGHTS. I SAW A LOVELY YOUNG LADY, WHO'S SMILE WAS BRIGHT. I JUST HAD TO ASK, DO YOU REALLY EXIST? WITH A WINK AND A NOD SHE GAVE A SLAP ON MY WRIST. COMPLETELY SURPRISED, THIS MADE ME GASP. SHE SAID MY NAME IS TAZZIE AND I LIVE IN THE PAST. I SAID MY NAME IS PEPPERMAN. SHE SAID I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. YOU WALKED THROUGH THE PORTAL FROM A WORLD NOT FAR. I WAS REALLY QUITE STARTLED. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. SHE TOOK HOLD OF MY HAND AND SAID PLEASE WALK THIS WAY. THE SUN SEEMED TO SHINE WITH A WARM GENTLE BREEZE. THE FEELING OF EMPTINESS DISSIPATED WITH EASE. THE FRAGRANCE OF LILAC BOMBARDED THE AIR. COLORFUL FLOWERS WERE EVERY-WHERE FROM THAT POINT ON, THE PLACE CAME TO LIFE. I FELT MY MEMORY WAS SHARP AS A KNIFE. ICE CREAM VENDOR AND CHILDREN AT PLAY. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE ONE YESTERDAY.