Concern molds her face, deepening the creases across her brow. “Has something happened to him?”
I shake my head, my long strands whipping against my cheeks. “He’s sad, and it’s all my fault.”
“Oh, Sol.” Everly offers me an encouraging smile. “You will go back soon. I know you will. You will be healed, and he will pull you into his arms. You’ll be together again.”
How I long for that to be true.
“Sol,” she says, her voice gentle, reassuring. “Talk to him. Tell him you’ll go back to him soon.”
“You want me to talk to a man that isn’t here?” I ask, doubt framing my words.
“Yes. In your head.” Her eyes lower to my binding tattoo. “Trust me, that tattoo he chose has more power than you think.”
My hand trembles as I lift it back to my chest, feeling that sharpness again, that agony he’s feeling. [I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.]
Nothing changes.
The pain is still there. So is the guilt wrapping thorny vines around my heart.
I close my eyes, focusing on him. [I will return to you. I promise.]
[Sol.]
I jerk my gaze around, expecting to see him standing next to me, but he’s not.
[Sol.]Hector’s voice again—louder this time, clearer, more tinged with longing to see me.
Everly watches me, her eyes keen. “Did you hear him?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Good.” She slips her leather bracelet higher, showing off her binding tattoo. “I wish Cenric had chosen the same kind of design for us.”
“Evie.” I swallow through the ache, the yearning, the need to see my husband again. “I miss Hector so much.”
“I know you do.” She straightens her bracelet and speaks in a voice echoing my pain. “I miss my husband too.”
As the wind picks up, blowing dust across the ground, I stare up at the sky and try to focus on my next step. It’s all I have right now. The next path.
When I am finished here, I can think about Hector.
Everly glances around. “How far do you think we are from the pool?”
“Not far. It’s in a nearby cave.”
She stares at the dusty road for several breaths before speaking again. “How far is the village where you grew up?”
“It would take us less than a week to reach it.” I bite the inside of my lip, then speak the words even though they feel entirely selfish. “Would you mind if we go there after I renew? I need to speak to my father.”
“Of course. It would be foolish to be this close and not see him.”
“I haven’t…” I let out a sharp exhale. “…It’s been a long time since I last saw him, and I need to ask him about my mother.”
She picks dandelions as we walk, blowing on them, and allowing their seeds to dance in the wind. “Will he be happy to see you?”
The humid summer day envelops me as I extend my hands, letting some of the dandelion seeds settle on my palms. “I hope so.”
We fall silent as we reach the hill leading to the cave. With each step, my hope grows in a way I haven’t allowed it to since I woke up in Rock Mountain all alone.
