The towns people, staff and guests at the Burwell House looked on in astonishment. It was as if we were all catapulted back in time, watching the same vision, except this was real. We had all been brought to the other side of the veil into another time and dimension.

"Mary, where are you girl? Where is my sweet daughter Mary?" Hiding in her bedroom, four year old Mary was lying under her bed shaking, like she did so many other times when she heard her dad's harsh voice moaning for her. Holding on tight to her favorite yarn doll, she squeezed hard as if it could transport her somewhere else. Her little four year old mind was having flash backs of the smell, that awful dirty smell. She prayed for God to save her, so her daddy could not touch her anymore. "Dear God, please let daddy go away, so I don't feel so sad and scared.

Footsteps, loud footsteps coming closer, ever closer. She could now see the brown shoes just inches from her bed. Shutting her eyes tightly, she shivered and wished she could just evaporate.

His hand perused under the bed until latching onto Mary's arm. Pulling her out from her elbows,he said, "Why would you hide from me Mary? I am your papa." The strong smell of alcohol permeated the air around them. He staggered as he led Mary to his room and threw her on the bed.

Downstairs in the kitchen over the wash tub, Mary's mother Anna was cleaning dishes. Her body started heaving as she heard, "mommy, mommy help me?" A mothers' instincts kicked in and Anna went into action. This will never happen again she angrily muttered under her breath. This will never happen again. Pulling it open she poured the pills into her hand, washing it down with Mountain Dew that was sitting on the counter. Grimacing, she took the Mountain Dew bottle, filled the glass and hurried up the wooden stair case.

Signs of stress had been plaguing the Burwell family for several months now. Their once lucrative milling company was slowly being taken over by a new milling company in the Minneapolis area. That is when everything at the Charles Burwell family mansion started crumbling. Charles would leave for days only to come back to the Burwell mansion, staggering and drunk.

First stair, second, third....as her foot hit the top stair, the old wooden floor creaked. "Mary, Mommy is here. I am here for you darling." Walking into her and Charles' master bedroom, Anna observed Charles passed out. Little Mary laid stiffly next to him, her eyes wide open and filled with fear. In his drunken stupor, Anna gave her husband some of the special pop. Anna picked Mary up slowly and held her tightly in her arms. "It's ok Mary she whispered, we will be ok, mommy is here now." A golden color filled the entire bedroom.

Anna looked lovingly at her daughter on the couch. She picked her up muttering, "it will never happen again Mary, please forgive me, it will never happen again."

Reciting the "Our Father", Anna walked as fast as she could, holding Mary tightly in her arms. She stumbled down to the creeks edge sobbing. Looking nervously up at the bedroom window, Anna knew this would be the last time she would see her lovely home and family. "I know Mary, it is so beautiful here, the creek runs through it. The cross of God is here in the middle of the creek Mary. Please forgive me, we will be OK."

We all watched in horror as Anna and Mary walked hand in hand into the deep dark creek. They were not seen again until the authorities recovered their bodies weeks later. "Yes, said officer John, Both Anna and her daughter Mary were found in the creek. Both had cross necklaces around their necks. We also found Charles Burwell dead in his room due to an overdose." The Minnetonka city papers all reported a mysterious beautiful golden color that hung over the entire length of the creek.

As if being pulled through a vaccum, we were all standing here again, but back in the present time. Right in front of us stood Charles, Anna and Mary Burwell. "It's ok, said Courtney, your all here now to heal the past. You can let go of all the pain and misery now." In the background you could hear the prayer chain continue. One could feel a transforming energy that went from cold and dank to gold. It was the first time these souls had reunited and realized what had happened to them. How their lives had ended so abruptly, so cruelly.

"You all need to forgive each other and go now into God's light. You can do it, just follow the light, it will lead you. Mary had a softness around her face with an angelic glow. "I forgive you daddy." I forgive you mommy." Tears streamed down Charles and Anna's faces. Suddenly they all glowed in a golden hue. We could all see the vision of the cross rising from the creek. " Are you ready to go to God's light now?" All three turned to Courtney and smiled, "thank you for bringing us back together." Tears ran down my face as I nodded and waved a final farewell. Mary softly whispered, "Courtney, it is where dreams and sleep connect. I knew you would help my family."

We saw three silhouettes going towards the cross that laid over the length of the creek. A light brighter than the sun, nearly blinded all who watched in sheer joy. Charles and Anna each held one of Mary's hands. We could hear Mary's giggling as they dissipated and became enveloped in God's light.

.© 2012 Laura Rogers











