#inter-dimensional-traveller

1.  Ever since Harmony got the tattoo on her back, she’s been more comfortable in showing off her arms, shoulders, and back. At the time she first became intimate with Bowen, it was before she set foot into Indigenous Ink Studio for that appointment. At the time, she feared he would become disgusted of the burns and reject her.  It wouldn’t take long for her to learn that he never thought of her imperfections as horrendous, not even once. That earned more of her trust in being more open with him.

2.  Sadly, Harmony does not get to see Bowen very often and for a while, she never knew why. It started to bother her, fretting if he is seeing someone else (he didn’t and wouldn’t, but her anxiety went into overdrive). That led to her confronting Bowen, wanting to know where he goes for days without so much of a phone call or even an email or text. That was when she learned that Bowen is not like most men. No, he is much more than that. Far much more. 

3. Harmony doesn’t clearly understand Bowen’s duties and the concept of the multi-verse. It actually makes her a bit uncomfortable since it conflicts the beliefs and religion she was raised on, but tries to understand and is supportive of Bowen and his responsibilities. Unfortunately, she knows her family will be a different story. This is true with the elders in her family who are very set in the beliefs that there is one universe which is the physical world and the spirit world led by Wakan Tanka. Harmony’s Great-Aunt Tessie is the most open-minded of the elders and would likely be interested in Bowen and aid him in becoming accepted into the family. 

However, the actual heads of the family is Tessie’s older sister, Rose and her husband, Joseph Thunder Hawk who is a wičháša wakȟáŋ or holy man.  This is a title of someone who is like a spiritual guide and acts as a voice for the spirit world. For background, Harmony’s family married into the Thunder Hawk clan which is one of the more influential families on the Black Hawk Reservation due to their lineage as holy people and holding a place in the council. They are very traditional and may give Bowen dirty looks as he shares his adventures with the children who would pester him for more stories. Most of the family welcome Bowen, but know that it is up to the elders to formally recognize him as part of their family. 

I have a feeling that Harmony’s great uncle Joseph would have trouble accepting Bowen into the family. Mainly because he feels Bowen’s role challenges his role in the community and in the universe, the tribe’s beliefs and their way of life that colonialism almost destroyed. In a way, he sees Bowen as a threat to the freedom they have left and who they are. This is never Bowen’s intention and Harmony knows this. Harmony wants the elders to accept Bowen and give their blessing for their relationship. She already made up her mind on who she chose to be with, but having that blessing would mean the world to her.  

But in the end, if Joseph, Rose, and Great-Aunt Jessica don’t accept him as he is, as much as Harmony wants Bowen to be accepted into her family, she wouldn’t leave him and if they have children of their own, they would be part of the Halcyon and Thunder Hawk families. That’s a fact that the elders can’t change and if a child is born into the family regardless of who the other parent is, Joseph and the other elders would welcome them into the fold.  

4. During their time apart, Harmony developed a habit of writing emails to Boewn. She would tell him about how everything is with her studies at university, her job, the swim practices and meets, and other happenings. Perhaps trivial compared to what he deals with and there are often times when Harmony wished she could go on these adventures other than the monotony in her own life. Still, she writes these long emails and sends them, not sure if Bowen reads them, but understand if he can’t. It’s just been her way to try to keep contact with him. In a strange way, it’s almost like she’s talking with him, which is what she misses. 

And as always, she closes the emails with the same sentiment: That she missed him terribly, counted the nights to when he will return, and wished upon every star in the sky that he will come back safely.  At the very end of each and every message ends with a few words: 

“Even if we’re worlds apart, my love will be with you. Sincerely with a thousand kisses and a heart full of love,