Page 28 of Rhaz's Redemption
We’d walked long enough for the walls of the city to come into view.
“I’m afraid not,” I informed him as gently as I could.
Bhaz’s bottom lip began to tremble as he held back tears that threatened to spill onto his cheeks.
“Why did you carry me here?” he asked.
“I…” how do you tell someone that they’ve died? I remember how scared I’d felt the first time I came here. I didn’t know where I was or how I’d gotten here. I just knew I had to walk toward the one building I could see.
“I didn’t carry you here, Bhaz,” I confessed.
“Then how did I get here?” His brown eyes searched my face for answers I did not want to give.
I stopped walking and got down on one knee before the little sietling with dark blue skin, black curly hair, and big brown eyes that looked so familiar to me.
“Did your parents ever tell you the story of the ant and the butterfly?”
“Mmhmm,” Bhaz nodded as he wiped away a stray tear that had made its way down his face.
“It’s when our people believed that caterpillars died in their cocoons and came back to life as butterflies.”
“That’s right,” I nodded my encouragement. “And what did the ant ask the caterpillar?”
“The ant asked if she could ride on the caterpillars back to the afterlife.”
“And what happened next?”
“The caterpillar said yes, so the ant crawled onto the slug and they entered the cocoon together. Then they traveled through the sands of time to the city of souls where the ant saw an angel at the gate.”
“Then they were given a tour of the city. Do you remember that part?”
“Mmhmm,” Bhaz nodded his head.
“The city is a beautiful place where there’s no pain, plenty of food, and where all your ancestors are gathered to welcome you home.”
I took a deep breath to prepare myself for what I must say next.
“What if I told you our story is like that of the caterpillar and the ant? What if I said we were headed toward the city of souls?”
“They’re going to give us a tour and then send us back home?” Bhaz asked with hope in his eyes.
“No,” I shook my head. “That is where the stories differ. When we reach the city of souls you’ll be let in, but you’ll have to stay there for a while.”
“What about you? I don’t want to go without you.”
I was touched by the trust Bhaz had placed in me over such a short amount of time.
“I’ve never been allowed inside,” I explained. “I am like the butterfly. I only get to visit the gate and then I’m sent away to sprout my wings back in the land of the living.”
“That’s not fair!” he whined as he wiped more tears from his face.
“No, it’s not fair,” I agreed.
“Will you stay with me until we reach the gate?” Bhaz asked.
“Of course,” I smiled down at him. “I’ll stay with you for as long as I can.”
“Will you carry me the rest of the way? My legs are tired.”
