Ella`s Story
My Love From The Future
BOOK ONE

Chapter 6 : Roxana

Episode 6 : April 10 2019 Wednesday 8th grade

Copyright © 2019-2025 Gary Brandt. All rights reserved.

Roxana’s bedroom is a sanctuary of soft colors and sacred symbols, the walls adorned with framed portraits of her heroes—Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, and a small icon of the Virgin Mary glowing faintly under a string of fairy lights.

The air carries the faint scent of lavender from a candle on her desk.

It’s Tuesday night, and Roxana sits cross-legged on her bed, the Aladdin’s lamp perfume bottle resting beside her, its glass catching the light.

Helana’s presence hums gently in her mind, a comforting constant. “You have a lovely room, Roxana,” Helana says, her voice warm.

“It feels peaceful.

You must be very comfortable here.” Roxana smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I like it.

I got my own room when I was eleven, and since I turned thirteen, I can keep the door closed so Mom and Dad aren’t always peeking in.” “It’s nice to have your own space,” Helana says.

“That’s hard in my world.

Being telepathic, my parents can slip into my mind whenever they want.

I can block them a bit, but then they get suspicious.

I’m a little jealous of how things work here.” Roxana laughs, her beads clicking softly in her pocket.

“If you’re not up to mischief, it shouldn’t be a problem.” “What’s childhood without a little mischief?” Helana quips, and they both chuckle, the sound easing the quiet of the room. Roxana’s expression softens, her voice careful.

“Helana, I really like you, and I see how you’ve bonded with Ella.

It’s clear you love each other.

Having a friend from another dimension is… pretty cool.” “Ella’s a beautiful girl, a beautiful spirit,” Helana says, her tone tender.

“I love her more than words can describe.” Roxana nods, choosing her words with care.

“I love her too, more than words can say.

But there’s a difference between us.

I’m only thirteen, but I know a bit about how life works.

You don’t just love Ella—you’re *in love* with her.

Do you understand what that means?” Helana pauses, her presence flickering.

“I know what it means—a desire to bond, to blend, to become one, like a marriage.

I don’t feel that way, at least not exactly.

To be honest, I’m not sure what I feel.

Your world’s emotions are intense, overwhelming for a visitor like me.

Even your pets and farm animals radiate feelings stronger than anything in my dimension.” Roxana feels a pang of sympathy but holds firm.

“I need you to promise me, with all your heart, that you’ll never harm the ones you love.

You say you love all three of us—Ella, Eileen, and me.

Prove it.” Helana’s voice trembles, as if tears could form in her intangible state.

“I promise, Roxana.

I’d never harm you.

I love you three with an intensity beyond words.” Roxana senses the sincerity, her own eyes stinging.

“Good.

I’ll hold you to that.

But if you ever hurt Ella, I’ll do everything in my power to bring the wrath of God down on you.” Helana laughs, a bright, chiming sound.

“I’m less scared of God’s wrath than yours! I swear, if anyone or anything harms you girls, it won’t be me—and I’ll unleash my own wrath on them.” Roxana exhales, a weight lifting.

“Okay, we’re on the same page.

Now, I’ve got a million questions.

Ready?” “Fire away!” Helana says, her tone eager. “First, how do you speak perfect English? Did you study it in your school?” “I don’t speak English at all,” Helana explains.

“That’s why manifesting physically here would be hard—I couldn’t speak your language.

With telepathy, I send thoughts, not words.

Your brain translates them into English automatically.

In Japan, they’d hear Japanese; in Korea, Korean; in Germany, German.

Eventually, you’ll stop hearing words and just *know* my thoughts.” “So you’re deep in my mind when you talk,” Roxana says, unease creeping in.

“I’m not comfortable with that.” “I only touch the part of your mind that’s open to me,” Helana assures her.

“You can block me by not wanting to talk.

It’s your choice.” “What about those goth girls you scared off?” Roxana asks.

“How’d you do that?” “They were attacking someone I love,” Helana says, her voice firm.

“I was more aggressive with them, projecting fear.

Like Ella said, I can be fierce when I need to be.

But I’d never do that to you girls.” “So telepathy can be a weapon,” Roxana says, her brow furrowing.

“That’s dangerous, isn’t it?” “No more dangerous than any weapon,” Helana replies.

“Words, spoken or written, have destroyed people and nations here.

The question is discipline—using any power wisely.

Telepathy’s no different.” “My dad says something like that,” Roxana says, staring at the floor.

“‘Once a bad word leaves your mouth, you can’t stuff it back in.’” “Exactly,” Helana agrees. Roxana’s gaze drifts to the portraits on her wall, her voice softening.

“I wish our world had more discipline—with words, guns, bombs, everything.

People use anything as a weapon.

We’re privileged—our parents have good jobs, nice houses, fancy cars, plenty of food.

We get braces for perfect teeth.

But that’s not the world for most.

Kids starve, bombs kill, people flee violence.

Even here, in a safe country, kids get beaten or shot just going to school.

I pray about it every day.

I cry about it every night.” “Is that why you want a life of service through your faith?” Helana asks gently. “I guess,” Roxana says, her eyes lingering on Mother Teresa’s portrait.

“It’s not just what I want—it’s who I am.

My heroes lived for others.

That’s my path.” “I love you, Roxana, and I respect you deeply,” Helana says, her voice full of admiration.

“Your commitment to service is inspiring.

But a word of advice, from someone who’s glimpsed your future: to nurture others, you must first nurture yourself.

Denying yourself joy—dating, love, maybe a family—could starve you emotionally and physically.

You’d have less to give.” Roxana’s breath catches.

“You saw a future where I was… ineffective because I was starved?” “I saw several futures,” Helana says.

“I mentioned celibacy because it was on your mind then.

But a more likely path showed you with privilege, love, a husband, children.

Yet you were crushed by guilt for enjoying life, which dimmed your impact.

Now that I’m here, you get a redo.

Embrace joy, whatever path you choose, and you’ll have more to share with those in need.” Roxana’s heart races, her voice rising.

“That was my future? My *most likely* future? That’s not what you said before!” She pauses, her chest tight.

“I’m… upset.

I don’t think that’s possible.

Dating? Marriage? Kids? I don’t even have clothes for a date.

I’m going to be sick!” “I’m so sorry,” Helana says, her voice anguished.

“I didn’t mean—” “Be quiet, Helana,” Roxana snaps, her hands trembling.

“Go into your lamp and stay there.

Don’t read my mind.

I need to process this.

I’ll tell you when you can come out.” --- Hours later, Ella’s phone buzzes, pulling her from a restless sleep.

It’s midnight, and her mom stands in the doorway, holding out the phone with a worried frown.

“Roxana’s having some kind of meltdown.

Talk to her.” Ella grabs the phone, her voice groggy but urgent.

“Roxana? What’s going on? Are you okay?” “It’s your stupid friend, Helana!” Roxana’s voice cracks, thick with tears. “Did she hurt you?” Ella asks, sitting up, her heart pounding. “No, she didn’t hurt me,” Roxana says.

“But she’s saying all this stuff about my future, and I don’t know if she’s telling the truth or just messing with me.

I had everything figured out—my whole life planned.

Now it’s all messed up, and I’m messed up.” “Oh my gosh,” Ella says, softening.

“What did she say to trigger this panic attack? Is someone dying? Is the world ending?” “She says I won’t be a nun,” Roxana sobs.

“That I’ll date, get married, have kids.

I’ve never even thought about that.

It’s never crossed my mind.

I don’t know where to start.” “Oh, Roxana, sweetie,” Ella says, her voice warm.

“That’s not bad news.

I’ve always dreamed of our kids growing up together, like we did.

Dating’s scary, especially if you’ve never considered it, but we can’t date for, like, three years anyway.

You’ve got time to figure it out.

And Helana’s not the boss of your future—she messed up the timelines by coming here.

You can still be a nun if that’s your path.

But I’m excited to meet your kids someday.

You’re just scared of a future you can’t control.

None of us can, no matter how hard we try.” “So I have to find a boyfriend now?” Roxana asks, her voice small. “No way!” Ella laughs.

“You don’t need to do anything.

Just be the best you.

The right person will find you—my mom says that.

Heck, you might not even be into guys.

Maybe you’ll marry a girl.” “I’ve thought about it enough to know I’m straight,” Roxana says, her tone steadier.

“But I always pushed those thoughts away.

Now they’re taking root, and I’m scared I’ll end up boy-crazy like Eileen.” Ella chuckles.

“No chance of that.

It’s not your style.

When the right guy comes along, just go with it.

Let your future happen.

But not too soon—we’ll date when we’re ready, and I get to approve him first.

Sweet dreams, Roxana.

No need to panic.

Tell Helana goodnight for me.” --- At 2 a.m., Ella, exhausted but wired, opens her diary, the weight of the night pressing on her.

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NEXT >> Chapter 7
Crystal

Eileen befriends Crystal, a troubled girl from a group home who reveals she was sexually assaulted at age twelve during a party with older teens, but refuses to report it due to fear of retaliation in her dangerous neighborhood. Determined to understand Crystal's world, Eileen convinces her friends to bike through Jackson Street, where their psychic friend Helana senses overwhelming emotional pain and explains that both poor and wealthy neighborhoods suffer from deep angst when people's reality doesn't match their dreams of who they're meant to be.

<< PREVIOUS Chapter 5
5

Ella, Eileen, and Roxana navigate the aftermath of their supernatural encounter from the previous day, dealing with threats from wannabe goth witches while Ella carries the perfume bottle containing her spirit friend Helana. When a desperate classmate named Billy asks for help with `Shadow People` he's been seeing, the girls reluctantly agree to perform a sage cleansing ritual at his house, though they're uncertain whether the entities are real or imaginary.

FIRST Chapter 0 Sleep Over

Thirteen-year-old Ella and her best friends Eileen and Roxana encounter an interdimensional being named Helana during a sleepover, who appears as different benevolent figures to each girl and reveals glimpses of their legendary futures. When Helana tries to leave after accidentally revealing herself and disrupting their timelines, Ella cleverly traps the entity by claiming authority over her domain, forcing Helana to stay as their `genie in a bottle` despite her pleas to return home.