“I thought you were dead!” he cried, as he pulled me into a weak hug. I could feel the bones in his back through his thin shirt.
“Why?”
“I can’t feel you anymore.”
“What?”
“I thought that only happened when the other dies. I was so sure you were gone.” Pulling away from me, he touched my face as if to make sure I were real. “Baby, I couldn’t live without you!”
I took his bony hand in mine, squeezing it and kissed the tips of his fingers. “Nor I without you.”
We held each other for a few minutes, feeling the warmth of our skin touching and listened to our breathing. A red glow began to form around us and it tingled my skin as it touched me. Thayde’s eyes grew larger, his face just centimeters from mine.
“Something’s changed in you - your glow is red now.”
“I started speaking Sanserian and Tammer said I mentioned something about The Blessing being completed.”
“You passed the test then.” His tone was proud.
“I wish you would have told me there was one.”
“Nobody could have told you that. It would have interfered with everything. We weren’t allowed.”
I understood – messing around with The Link was not permitted.
“Did Naira stay with you the whole time?”
Thayde nodded. “She was very calming - a sweet little girl. But when I felt you separate from me – when I thought you had died - she couldn’t handle the emotions and had to leave. I appreciate what she tried to do, though. She’s very strong for her age.”
“Naira cares about everyone,” I added, “even a mythical beast in the middle of the lake.”
“Yes, she told me all about Sharlie.” Thayde squeezed me again. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
The red glow didn’t leave us, even when Mom and Tammer entered the room. Mom stared in awe, her arm dropping from around Tammer’s waist.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“You’re healing him!” She said, barely above a whisper.
I hadn’t even considered trying that yet. I knew it had to be done, but at the moment, I just wanted to hold Thayde, to love him. We gazed at each other as if seeing each other for the first time. There was nowhere else I wanted to be at that very moment. I wanted so much to know how he felt.
Carefully, I allowed myself to look into him – to search for the love he held for me. It flew forth, encasing me in its power. The enormity of it was overpowering and I cried. He loved me just as much as I loved him. This was my soul mate, my husband, the love of my life. If given the choice, I would have stayed this way forever, but I moved from his arms so I could get a better look at him. I watched the red glow linger around Thayde before it finally disappeared. All the while, Thayde’s gaze never left mine.
Mom lay her hands on hiss slim shoulders, closing her eyes. “You removed The Shadow from him.” There was hope in her eyes as she looked at each of us. “He’s not good as new, but he’ll start recovering right away.”
“Tammer.” Aletheia’s voice made all of us look to her. She stood uneasily in the doorway, one hand against the archway as if she couldn’t stand without it. It was the first time they’d seen each other since Reyes Dartmoth’s death.
“Hi sis,” Tammer looked equally nervous. “How are you?”
“I’m alive,” she answered, a slight edge to her tone. “We should talk.”
“Yeah,” He let go of Elan’s hand and followed his older sister from the library.
“Are they going to be all right?” I asked as Mom who was watching them leave.
“I think they will. Time heals all wounds.”
“Even when a cord is severed?”
Mom looked sad, as if she were contemplating what it might feel like to lose Tammer. “It takes longer than normal, but yes, it is possible.”
Aletheia and Tammer were gone for a few hours. During that time, Thayde and I held one another on the couch in the library, wrapped in a soft blanket, and watched the ducks and geese assemble on the edge of the lake. Words couldn’t take the place of our feelings and we basked in the red glow that surrounded us – almost speaking telepathically to each other. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. My heart felt filled to the brim with love and hope.
When they returned, Aletheia and Tammer were still talking and it appeared they had patched up the rift that had grown between them as best they could. There would always be a scar in their relationship, but with it closed, they could start to heal as well.
After filling up on a delicious dinner of grilled salmon and fresh salad, everyone decided to make it a movie night. It was unanimously agreed that the Star Wars Trilogy would be the movies for the night. It felt the way it had during those months before we moved to New York. It was just family living together in harmony and peace – even with Lars and Jacob there. It was perfect.