Page 87 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“No.”Auroraturned to the inn.Shedidn’t know if she should be relieved or sad that it wasAilithwho would have to die.Ailithwas older and had lived most of her life. “Ishould go and say goodbye.Areyou almost done?”
“Almost, but they are not here.Theywent toMorrothis morning.Mrs.Ahad some papers to sign.”Sissywiped her hands on her apron. “Soyou’re leaving?”
Aurora looked to see if the inn glowed withDeath’stouch.She’dhave to figure out a way to do it when no one was watching.Itwould be hard onLillianto lose her mother right before her wedding.Aurorasat down on the small bench by the washtub.Theweight of what she had yet to do pressed down on her.
“Ella?”Sissysat down next toAurora. “Isthere something wrong?”
Aurora forced a smile. “No.Um…Iguess.”Auroralooked around the garden.Ellahad spent many hours here, she andSissydreaming of silly things.Ellahad found peace here. “Ididn’t think it would be this hard to say goodbye.”
“So this is goodbye?”
Aurora could feelSissy’ssadness, and she would regret that.Therewere lots of things thatEllahad done thatAurorawould have to regret. “ForElla, yes.”
Sissy looked down at her hands.Whenshe lifted her eyes, there were tears. “I’llmiss you.”
“You will?”Thiswas also new forAurora. “Why?”
“Because, silly, you were my friend.Orat least asElla, you were.It’sweird thinking of you that way.YouwereElla, and yetElladidn’t exist.”Sissywalked over to whereAurorasat. “Youwill wait and say goodbye to them, won’t you?Mrs.A. andLillian.Theywere worried.Itold them thatMr.Tenebrishad asked you to marry him.Ididn’t think you’d come back.”
“I hadn’t planned on it,”Auroraconfessed.Godsdidn’t have friends so they couldn’t mourn the loss of them.Andit would’ve been easier not to.ToletEllafade from everyone’s memory.
“I’m glad you did.”Sissyblinked back the tears.
“Me too.”
And that was true.Mortalsweren’t her favorite creatures because she believed they were fragile and frivolous.Andsome were, but others likeSissy,Clara,Mrs.A, andLillianwere just trying to get the most out of their lives.Fora yearSissyhad beenElla’ssoft place to land.Shehad been kind toElla.Theyall had loved her unconditionally, which was something the gods could learn from the mortals.
“You were good to me.Iowe you for your kindness.SoIwill grant you a wish.Anywish.Butknow that there are limits to whatIcan give you.”
“You will?”Sissyblinked back the tears.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”Sissythought for a moment, then closed her eyes.
Aurora waited forSissyto speak her wish.Whenshe didn’t,Auroratook her hand. “Youhave to say it out loud, silly girl, orIcan’t hear you.”
Sissy opened her eyes.Theyreflected back the warmthEllahad needed the most. “Iwish to be happy.”
Of courseSissywould wish for the simplest yet most complicated wish.Shepressed a kiss toSissy’scheek and whispered, “Thatwhich is wished from below shall be granted from above.It’sdone.Allthe happiness is yours.”
“Thank you.”Sissyrested her head onAurora’sshoulder. “Iwill miss you.”
Aurora rested her head on top ofSissy’s.Theysat in the peace that would come to a bitter end tonight.Sheneeded to move forward.Toforget all of this as well as a god could, and that meant cutting the ties tonight.
“Do you remember the storyItold you aboutDarknessbreakingDawn’sheart?”Sissyasked, lifting her head.
“I do.”Auroramemorized her friend’s face.Aurorawould never seeSissylike this again, youthful and full of life.Timewould leave his mark on all of them.
“Tell me the end of the story.Tellme you got a happy ending.”
Aurora looked atSissy, her eyes wide with hope. “Godsdon’t get happy endings because we have so many endings.”
“I should have wished for that.”Sissylooked back to the setting sun. “Thereis someone else who will not get his happy ending.”Sissylooked down at her hands. “Williamhas been worried.Pleasego to him and let him know you are well.AndthatMr.Tenebrisdidn’t kidnap you.Hewanted to call the king’s guards in.”
Aurora took a deep breath. “Ireally should see toMrs.A.”
“They won’t be back until dark.Youhave time, and you owe it to him.Heloves you.”
