Page 171 of Through a Somber Sky
Each and every one of them.
“We should go,” I say to her. The light that’s behind us grows dimmer each moment we delay and the portal grows smaller.
Celia puffs out an exacerbated breath. “Can’t we haunt them a little longer?”
I chuckle and kiss the top of her head. “I’m afraid our part is done.”
My eyes linger on Elora. Her hair is unbound, cut shorter now, falling around her shoulders. Her eyes bounce between her guests as she takes bites of her food.
I have committed her face to memory and yet I fear the moment I turn, all will be lost.
“We may be dead,” Celia says, “but damn if this doesn’t hurt.”
I squeeze her hand.
I thought I knew pain the day my life ended on the mountain. Thought death was the most terrible thing that could happen to someone.
I had no idea that instead, it’s actually what comes after that hurts the most. Being stuck on this side while everything changes just out of your reach.
But I suppose it hasn’t all been terrible.
My eyes flick to Sam, and she glances at us over the candles. Her fiery eyes soften, and when she raises her wrists, I shake my head.
We’ve overstayed as long as we can and she has already done so much. If we don’t leave now, we risk vanishing completely. Nohope for a life in the after. Sam smiles, tucking her hands back in her lap.
The light behind us flickers and Celia and I both turn.
“All right, then,” she says through a sigh. “Let’s go, El.” She takes a step forward and gestures to a darkened corner. “ You too. You’re one of us now, whether you like it or not.”
The young man steps forth from the shadows, his green eyes catching mine before he follows Celia toward the light.
“Cheer up, sweetheart.” She pats his cheeks, and though he tries to hide it, a small smile turns up his lips.
He hasn’t spoken in all the years he’s been by our side, but his eyes say enough. That of all the words in the world, none would ever be enough to express the brokenness and heartbreak of his life. We share this, the three of us. And maybe it’s why the Mother brought us together after all.
“We’ve got you, dear.” Celia holds out her hand, and he slips his fingers in hers. “I suppose this is it.”
“This is it,” I repeat.
The light dims as the two of them pass through, but I stop to take one last look around the table. One last look at my daughter and the family she has created for herself.
I wasn’t lying when I gave the message to Sam that day. When I told her to tell Elora I was always with her. And truthfully, I always will be. Corbin will watch her. And the family she has created for herself will catch her should she need it.
And I’d like to believe a small part of me will live on in her and despite the pain and anguish, seeing her here makes it all worth it.
She was always worth it.
The light behind me pulses again, and so, with my daughter's face fresh in my mind, I turn and take the final step through, joining Celia and Roman on the other side.
