He was right.
“I saved your life,” Santiago replied. “You should thank me, Golden Girl.”
I nodded.
Magda retreated from her place at Santiago’s side and rushed at me with a bone-crushing hug. I inhaled her sweet, flowery scent, and was grateful for the closeness that had evaded me for so long. She was my sister. We had been through one of these moments before, when I thought we would never see each other.
As if reading my thoughts, she said, “We will see each other again. You getting put in the tournament didn’t change that, and this won’t either,” she said, and I pretended I couldn’t hear the wobble in her voice.
I hugged her back for as long as I could manage.
Then I pulled away, wiped my eyes, and whispered. “Nos vemos pronto.”
She smiled, though I could already see tears collecting in her eyes. “Te amo, Carmencita.”
The weight of love settled on me.
I had never told her I loved her, but I did. I had lost one sibling. I wouldn’t lose her too. The need to tell her had the words delicately resting on the tip of my tongue, ready to come out for the first time.
But instead, I said the same thing as always. “Lo sé.”
She laughed and then sobbed.
I turned around, facing the tunnel, and walked inside. She never saw my tears, the grief I held in my heart for the fragments of my life which had come into focus. I could be strong and carry this without her. As much as I loved her, I could keep this for myself.
No sooner than I crossed the threshold than the stones moved again. I turned back for a moment, only to see Santiago and Magda fleeing as well.
It didn’t take long to be closed-in by the thick blackness. The only light was the glow from my own golden skin.
I picked up my skirts and ran.
* * *
The end
