THE HEALER — Bonds of the heart

She got up and greeted Ernesto. This time she thanked him for caring for her, for listening, and for allowing her to be herself. When his trunk winked at her, it seemed the most natural gesture in the world.

The light of the previous day had not faded. Nor had that feeling of being awake in a different way.

She ate a few berries for breakfast. Before leaving, she tucked Yaseee’s labradorite into her satchel. Then she wrapped her wings around Ernesto, pressing her chest as close to his trunk as she could.

“I have to go on a journey,” she told him. “I don’t know how long I’ll be away. But I’ll look for you in every tree.”

She was not sure the dream had been anything more than a dream. Even so, as she spoke those words, she felt him embrace her.

Drops fell from the branches. Skyblue raised her face. It seemed to her that Ernesto was crying, but she found no plea for her to stay in those tears. She remained beside him a little longer, without speaking.

Then she went to say goodbye to her parents.

They knew why she had come as soon as they saw her. Years before, Evarista had warned them that the day of this journey would come. They had listened then as one listens to something still far in the future. Now their daughter stood before them, ready to leave, and they felt that no amount of waiting could have quite prepared them.

They embraced her. Her father adjusted one of the satchel’s straps, though it did not need adjusting. Her mother rested her forehead against Skyblue’s for a moment.

“I love you,” the young dragon told them. “Thank you for being there for me, even when you didn’t know what to do with me.”

All three smiled.

“I know I haven’t always been easy to understand. But I’ve never doubted that you love me.”

Her parents gave her their blessing. They were happy for her, and at the same time it hurt to see her leave. Skyblue could recognize both feelings in their faces.