1 The Past Slips Away

Sarah looked at the book and ran her fingers over the cover. She looked around the room. It had changed from when she first wished Toby away, all of her stuffed animals and costumes had evolved into less of a child's room, until eventually Toby was old enough to inherit her animals.

She took out a pen and wrote a small letter, for whoever finds this next. She was certain that this wasn't the last time the Labrynth would debut in her world. It was only fair to give them a warning.

Her 9 year old brother burst into her room "Do you really have to go back to college. It's no fun around here." Sarah nods and says "Want to come with me and drop these off at Goodwill?" Toby nodded excitedly.

She puts the Labrynth into the box and Toby opens all of the doors for her. She put it in the back of the car and they drove off.

They pulled into the parking lot and she put it inside the donation bin. "Please...find someone who'll take care of you better than I." She said to the book. Take care of the Labrynth, take care of their family, and be able to handle Jareth's gaze. Someone who wasn't young and inexperienced like she was when she was younger. She smiled at Toby once he started to point out all the stuffed animals.

She wouldn't have traded the adventure for anything, but it's time for her to grow up. "Goodbye my friends." She whispered as they walked out and pulled away forever.

The book was placed with the other books, and many children and adults thumbed through the page. It called to anyone who looked, but no one bought it. Days turned to weeks turned to months and eventually became years. Goodwill was no place for a magical book.

One day a manager told an employee to throw it away. The employee took a good look and googled the book. It had been around since the 80s and was considered a classic. He took the book with him and auctioned it online, earning a lot of money. It was sold to an antique shop in (your hometown) and was shipped there.

And so the story starts again, as it did before, and as it will many times after.

But this time it starts with you.