Page 115 of Lost in the Dark

“I suppose so.” She looked down at her feet and dragged the tip of her toe through the rocky ground while I packed.

When everything was safely tucked in my pack, we left the warm glow of the cavern and headed back into the tunnels.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget these,” Iris said as her fingers danced along the blue mushrooms lining the tunnel.

I stopped and stared at her, marveling at the wonder written on her face, committing this moment to memorybecause I never wanted to forget her.

For a long time we walked, allowing the silence and the sadness to settle over us both like a dark cloud.

Until a dulcet sound broke the quiet.

Iris hummed a light hearted melody, her sweet voice filling the tunnel and bringing a smile to my face.

She was keeping good on her promise.

After a few moments of listening to her, I joined in, the baritone of my hums complementing hers perfectly.

“No, no, no,” she said as she hooked her arm through mine. “Like this.”

Again, Iris repeated the tune. This time I was sure I had it. I followed her instructions, changing my pitch and rhythm, and hummed the song to near perfection.

“Yes! Just like that.” She patted my arm and leaned her head against my shoulder. “You’re a fast learner!”

Her approval filled me with pride, and I puffed out my chest before starting up the song again.

Iris

Just as I was beginning to lose feeling in my feet and heavily contemplating asking Selvyn to carry me the rest of the way, the soft sound of running water filled the tunnel.

“We’re almost there,” Selvyn said. He gave my arm a reassuring squeeze, as if he could sense that my energy for the day was waning.

When we rounded the bend, the tunnel opened just wide enough for Selvyn to stand to his full height. A slow-flowing river ran alongside the path, the water reflecting the blue tint of the mushrooms off of its surface before disappearing into a hole in the cave wall.

It was breathtaking.

I’d never expected to find such beauty in the caves, but they held so many hidden secrets. Selvyn included.

“We’ll rest here for tonight,” Selvyn said as he started to unpack his bag.

My chest constricted.

Tonight.

Our final night together.

I willed myself not to cry and instead focused my attention back on the stream.

“Come here,” Selvyn called out to me from where he’d laid out the furs by the riverbank. “I’ll change your bandages and you can soak your feet while I start a fire.”

“A fire?” I asked, cocking my head to the side as he unwrapped my blistered feet. “But we have each other to stay warm.”

Selvyn let out a booming laugh that warmed my body better than a fire ever would. “It’s for cooking. I told you that tonight we’d have a special treat. Now, go soak your feet.” He shook my ankle playfully before rising to his feet.

I padded over to the water’s edge and let out a deep groan the moment my feet dipped below the surface. The cool water felt like heaven on my aching feet.

“How does it feel?” Selvyn called out to me. He’d already started the fire, and I could make out his bright smile in the warm light.

“It feels amazing,” I said, throwing my head back with a hum as I kicked my feet.

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