Her words cut me to the core. Was she going to hold this against me for the rest of my life? Paul knelt behind us.
“Morgan has no say in this; she is not God.”
Mom’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Can’t you ask Him? He hasn’t answered our prayers.”
Paul shook his head. “It’s not my place to question Him. Everything He does has a purpose.” He looked to Naira. “The bigger picture is what matters.”
Tammer and Naira drew apart, a look of alarm on Tammer’s face.
“I’m tired.” Naira said.
“It is time,” Paul’s voice was hushed.
“No,” Mom began to sob, “my baby,” she buried her face in her hands. Tammer reached for her, pulling Naira and I to him as well. The four of us held each other. No words came to my lips. What do you say to one who is dying?
“I’m sorry,” Paul interrupted after a few moments, “but we must go now.” Naira reached for him and he scooped her into his arms.
Panic set into me and I almost shouted as my heart spoke what I could not say. “Naira! I’m sorry! I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you.”
Paul stood; his magnificent height and shape seeming to double. Naira relaxed in his arms, her long hair trailing over his arm while her pretty fins touched the sparkly floor on the other side. She rested her head against his chest and smiled at me.
“Take care of Sharlie for me,” she said faintly. Paul’s giant wings spread open behind him, dwarfing us.
“I love you all,” she said and Paul’s wings closed around them. “Goodbye,” her voice was but a whisper as a bright light encompassed them. When we opened our eyes, they were gone.
I didn’t wait for Mom and Tammer to recover from seeing Naira disappear with Paul. They woke as if from a dream along with me. The first thing they did was pull Naira to the surface.
My little sister’s lifeless body hung in Tammer’s arms like a ragdoll. He clutched her to his chest and cried out loud, oblivious of our friends and family around us. Mom phased, barely able to pull herself from the tub. Vitahl reached for her hand and helped her, wrapping a towel around her shoulders.
Thayde offered his hand to me. I looked up at him, my body weighed down along with my heart. Instead of waiting for me, he walked into the tub, took my face into his hands and kissed me on both cheeks. Then, he carried me out of the water.
Mom quietly sobbed in Vitahl’s arms while the rest of our group respectfully waited. Tammer eventually phased and exited the water with Naira. We followed him from the room as he made his way with his daughter to the ocean.
When he reached the water, he hesitated. I can’t do this.
I moved to his side and held my hand out for Mom. She looked like the last thing she wanted to do was have any part in letting her daughter go. Finally, she took my hand and stood with us on the steps.
We’re with you, I comforted Tammer. Mom ran a shaking finger along Naira’s beautiful tail and took her limp hand in hers. Kissing the back of it, she broke into tears again. With one last hug, Tammer gently placed Naira into the water, pushing her away. She drifted with the waves, her body sinking a few inches before the bubbles began to overtake her.
Mom and Tammer clung to each other on the top step and I sat on the step next to them, my heart in my mouth. Naira disappeared before my eyes and I had done nothing to save her. Regret and guilt filled me to the bone. I dropped my head to my knees.
Loving arms circled my shoulders and Aletheia knelt alongside me. She placed her hand on the back of my head and pulled me to her embrace. I accepted her hug and began to cry. All she did was tighten her arms about me, and I suppose that’s all I needed. She smelled like Jasmine flowers.
“Look!” Gavran’s voice rang out moments later. He pointed across the ocean to the sky.
The sun streaked down through the cotton ball clouds, causing the turquoise water to sparkle like diamonds. Rising from the water, entwined in each other’s embrace, was my sister and Paul David.
It was a glorious sight – Paul’s magnificent wings arched and flexed, pulling them upward. He held Naira safely about her waist and she in turn lay her lovely head on his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her long blonde hair fell to her fins and her tail wrapped itself lovingly around one of his legs. They held each other as if it was their last time together, and indeed it was.
Not a word was uttered as we watched them ascend into the heavens. When they were but a speck against the sun, we were forced to look away.
“Thank you,” Tammer whispered.
I don’t know how long I sat on that step, but I sensed Thayde’s presence behind me the entire time. Aletheia stayed with me, one arm slung about my shoulders, gazing out to sea. It wasn’t until Vitahl approached us that Aletheia patted me on the arm.