Page 125 of The Bear and the Lamb
I watch Stella’s eyes go wide, little chest rising and falling with each breath.
“Then one day, the bear met a fine little lamb. Pretty as can be. And gentle too. But she wasn’t all soft like folks expected. She was clever. And brave. She helped that bear trick the hunters into thinkin’ they’d caught him. But really, the lamb and the bear just disappeared into the trees.”
His hand moves gently over Stella’s belly.
“And in those woods, they made a life. A good life. And after a while, they had themselves a little one. Half bear, half lamb. Fierce and gentle. Strong and kind. And they didn’t need much. They had a warm fire and soft quilts and stars overhead.”
He leans down and presses a kiss to Stella’s forehead.
“And even though they loved lookin’ up at the sky, they weren’t waitin’ for anything to save ’em. They knew they were already safe. Here on earth. Together.”
Kodiak turns to me. “Ain’t that right, Momma?”
I nod, voice caught in my throat.
Outside, the stars burn bright.
And for the first time in a long, long while, I don’t wish for anything at all.
I already have it.
THE END
