Page 136 of A Simple Truth

Whatever sleep I had hastily left me, my heart racing faster at the memory of Gideon earlier yesterday, standing there, so grand and striking…

I loudly gasped, my hand going straight for my mouth, hoping that I didn’t wake Xentar downstairs with the sound. Beating wings cut through the room as Liriya’s figure appeared out of the shadows, landing on my blankets.

“What’s the matter, Liriya?” My voice laced with concern as I rapidly unwrapped the small message attached to her foot. My mouth turned dry as I anxiously opened the letter, my eyes scanning the neatly written lines.

I am writing this only because I’m surely convinced Liriya will claw my eyes out by the morning if I don’t. And believe me, I already tried tricking her and sent mail to everyone I could think of. But she just keeps coming back with her claws a little too close to my face for my liking. So,purelybased out of concern for the safety and well-being of my eyes, I find myself with a letter addressed to you.

He left a bit of space after his explanation, writing only one word.

Hi.

My teeth scraped my bottom lip, as a thrilling and nervous feeling twisted my stomach.

A hidden smile crept up my lips as I reread the letter.

I shouldn’t be smiling. And yet I was, as I glanced over at the giant bird tilting her head at me, questioning, waiting. I swiftly grabbed the pen and scribbled a small ‘Hi’ next to his.

Liriya disappeared in a flash with an abrasive clap, and I winced at the loudness of the sound amidst the nightly silence, hoping that Xentar was a deep sleeper.

It was foolish of me to expect him to respond, and I knew I shouldn’t hope, but I didn’t lay back down. My heart fluttered inanticipation as I stared into the dark room, nervously scratching my arm, waiting for the bird to come back.

A minute later, she did.

Why are you staying up so late?he asked.

Can’t sleep,I replied.

Seems we share the same predicament.

It seems so.

I am sorry I called you a coward, Finnleah.

And I am sorry I was being one,I carefully wrote out.

82

FINNLEAH

By the time I made it back to the Creator’s village from my walk with Aurelia and Viyak on the coast, I was sweating. The blazing summer sun did not hesitate to burn my face, turning my slightly faded freckles into more prominent dark spots. I waved at the busy residents of the village, greeting each one of them, finally making it to Xentar's narrow cottage and tumbling inside. Chilled air and the lack of direct sunlight filled my body with pleasant relief as I ran to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of water.

Xentar was sitting at the round table, waiting for me. Dressed in his sleeveless tunic, he leaned back in his chair, his perfect face relaxed, golden eyes hurrying me. I motioned him with my finger ‘one minute’ while my tongue was busy gulping down the cold water. Finally, wiping a drop off my chin, I darted to my chair, taking a seat across from him.

“Ready?” He gestured to the pile of rocks that I had brought back from the shore.

“What color would you like today?” I asked as I twisted a small rock with my fingers. “Gray or…hear me out here, blackand white mixed together?” I sent him a crooked smile; he shook his head but still laughed.

“Today, we will work on their shape. I’d like perfect little squares,” Xentar said and with a simple motion of his large hand, he turned the rock into a perfectly shaped square.

“Well, I hope you like ovals, because that’s what you are getting today,” I replied as I grabbed another one of the small rocks.

“Concentrate.” His voice was stern, though he still had a bright, large smile, illuminating his face. “It’s simple, just a rearranging of matter. Close your eyes,” he ordered, and I did. “Concentrate on the material, feel the particles moving.”

I could almost feel the heated vibrations in my hand as my power curiously wrapped around the rock.

“Then you simply rearrange those particles,” Xentar continued explaining. I pushed for my powers to not only observe, but to make a change. But as the chains rustled within me, the little power that I had felt crumbled into nothingness. I let out a sigh, opening my eyes. A perfect square now laid on Xentar’s extended palm, mine on the other hand, might have had a sharpened corner? But even that was a stretch.

“It’s a start,” Xentar replied, I fought an eye roll, but nodded instead. Everyone had to start somewhere, he often said. Hour after hour, we spent inside, hiding from the ruthless midday sun, honing my poor Creator abilities.

---