Page 102 of The Demon's Spell

He ran his fingers through his hair. “I know.”

“But do you know that you can let them go?” she asked.

“I can. The thoughts I collect aren’t as heavy as they used to be. I can let them go now.”

“What about other burdens?” Grammy questioned.

Lucas sipped his tea, but he didn’t say anything.

“Letting go doesn’t mean ignoring it, or eliminating it from your conscious awareness,” Grammy said. “It doesn’t even mean you don’t want to help.”

“A burden is a burden,” Lucas stated. “You don’t just get to set it aside like setting a book on the table.”

Grammy cocked an eyebrow. “Why not? Perhaps it will give you the perspective to examine these things from other angles. Redefining burdens and how to manage them may help you both fulfill your prophecy. I’ve seen the way you two interact. You’re both very firm in your independence. You downplay what you’re going through so the other doesn’t worry. You’re so afraid of asking for help, because you don’t want to burden each other.”

I was offended. How could Grammy think there was anything wrong with trying to protect each other?

“I fail to see the problem,” Lucas said flatly.

“Yeah, we’re doing just fine, thanks,” I agreed.

Grammy sighed. “You’re failing to see the point. Independence is not the goal. You’re a team, which means you must learn interdependence.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And what exactly does that mean?”

“When you’re born, you’re dependent on your caretakers,” Grammy explained. “As a child, you need someone else to feed you, clothe you, care for you. You need your caretaker’s approval to survive. As you grow older, you learn how to care for yourself. You learn how to feed yourself, bathe yourself, and you even discover that you no longer need to depend on others’ approval, because you can find that love within yourself. What many people forget is that there is a third stage, called interdependence—where you become dependent on each other once more.”

“How is that a good thing?” I asked. “If we give up our independence to rely on each other, how can we ever function on our own?”

“It’s a different sort of dependence in which we know ourselves, our truth, and our own worth independently. We don’t rely on others to give us self-worth. Then we use our strengths to contribute to the community. Independence allows you to become authentic to your role, instead of fighting against it. Interdependence is about working together to create a harmonious relationship through your independence. You maintain your independence as you work to lift each other up.”

Grammy leaned back in her chair. “Think of the relationship between bees and flowers. The bees feed on nectar from the flowers, and as they fly from flower to flower, they pollinate the plants. The flowers support the bees, as the bees support the flowers. Each has their own independent job, but they work together harmoniously. It is the same in the coven, and how our magic works. Our strengths come together to make us stronger. I see you both struggling with this.

“That’s not true,” I protested.

“Not true?” Grammy questioned. “Nadine, how often do you ask Lucas for help? And Lucas, I know you care deeply about Nadine, and the last thing you want is to see her hurt. But for Alora’s sake, stop acting like she’s fragile. You know her better than that!”

The room went silent. Grammy’s words had hit hard, and Lucas and I both knew she was right. I’d asked for Lucas’s help tonight, but that was only because I’d reached a breaking point. I usually offered my help but never asked for it.

I stared down into my tea leaves. “I guess I do try to handle things by myself.”

Lucas swept my hair over my shoulder. “And I suppose I don’t always fully open up to you, because I don’t want to make it your job to fix me. That’s not fair to ask.”

I frowned. “It’s hard to watch you suffer. I just want to help.”

“Maybe all I need from you sometimes is a hug,” he admitted.

“I don’t want to cross your boundaries,” I said.

Lucas took my hands in his. “I have no boundaries when it comes to your affection. I’ll try to ask for it more when I need it, all right?”

I nodded. “And I’ll try to be more open, too.”

Grammy smiled. “I’m glad to see you two working together.”

“We’re a team,” I said. “We do have some stuff to work on, but for now we should probably get going. It’s late. Thank you for everything, Grammy.”

“Anytime,” she said kindly. “You two take care.”

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