Page 128 of Live Like Legends

I felt the overwhelming joy from both my parents when my wings finally made their appearance.

My chest tightened when I saw the hill I’d tumbled down and things went black. There was a sense that I had lost time somewhere, but I saw myself blink and my parent’s crying faces came into view. I felt like all my pieces were back together.

There was a sense of dread all of sudden and the memories were darker. My mother cried as she held me, but I didn’t know why.

She would leave and be gone for long periods of time, but eventually she took me with her. I remembered looking at a lady who I’d met a few times and she’d pressed her hand to my mother’s forehead and then to mine. It stung but I hadn’t felt any different.

I remembered when we got home, I had asked her what she did. My mother had knelt down in front of me and said:nothing for you to worry about. I hope you will never need to use it and if you do, it’s on something that truly matters to you.

I had decided to forget about it and then the memories got worse and I felt an overwhelming dread in my stomach.

I remembered men coming into our house and demanding she come with them. My voice had grown hoarse from screaming for her as they tried to drag her out. My father had shouted but he had to hold me back from running to get her.

She’d held my father’s face in her hands and told him something that I couldn’t quite make out and then she was gone.

Every memory after that was filled with agonizing crying and coughing fits. It felt like days of wondering when she was coming back and why she’d left me. I’d wondered why my father hadn’t gone to get her and bring her home.

I saw myself being taken to the same lady as before, my father’s face filled with regret and his eyes filled with tears. The lady, Moira, I think her name was, had tears in her eyes as well.

She was gentle with me when she said:this is only going to hurt for a moment and then it will be over, okay, Nicholas?

I never understood but I always assumed it was something to get my mother back. I hurt just like she said and then suddenly the memories go blank.

The memories replayed and replayed, forcing their way into my mind so that they would stay. My head throbbed and my eyes were closed so tight I felt tears sting at the corners.

I heard a locking sound as if they had found the places they forever belonged and they planned on staying there.

A light sound, a voice that stilled my heart and repaired a part of the oversized parental hole in my chest whispered across my mind.

I love you so much, Nicholas. One day I hope you will remember that.

Her voice was soothing and wrapped around me like a hug I didn’t know I needed.

I pushed away from the chair and landed on the floor, feeling a sense of vertigo when I opened my eyes. I looked around searching for a trash bin. I stalked over to it and emptied the contents of my stomach.

I heaved, seeing from the corner of my eye that Natalia was handing me a washcloth. I wiped my mouth, running the back of my hand along my eyes.

“So, how did it go?” Dani asked, moving around the chair so she could be closer to me.

I let out a shuddered breath. “She really loved me.”

Natalia placed the empty sphere in the box. “Your resurrection that your mother had transferred to you, I can remove it if you’d like. I can’t say it won't be any less painful,” she offered.

I looked down at Dani who shrugged, leaving that decision up to me completely. I was waiting for her to have some sort ofinput, but this one was all me. I rubbed at my chest, feeling like even with all the memories it wasn’t enough. “I think I’ll keep it.”

“Oh?” Natalia raised her delicate eyebrows.

I nodded swiftly, regretting it instantly when I felt the nausea start again. “My mother gave it to me because she wanted me to hold onto it for her. If I can use it to do something good again even years from now, then I’m satisfied.”

Natalia laughed softly. “Your mother would be very proud of you. I know I am.”

“Same here.” Dani kissed my cheek and I moved to kiss her mouth but she reared her head back. “As much as this moment calls for a passionate kiss, you just threw up in that trash bin, so no thank you.”

“Fair enough,” I conceded. I looked over at Natalia. “Thank you for not giving up on this.”

She smiled at me. “You have got a pretty great crowd around you Nicholas. I don’t think you will ever have a chance to falter again.”

A MONTH LATER

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