Twelve years ago…

There was really no question about what would happen next—Mary and Harrison would be initiated into the tribe.

It was a foregone conclusion, but it still required great care and deliberation, in keeping with the tribe's ancient initiation ceremonies. This wouldn't be an initiation like boys and girls went through to become adults—this was an adoption ceremony. Mary and Harrison would be adopted into the tribal family.

The process lasted several days, because each adoptee needed sufficient time to prepare themselves, mentally and spiritually. They had to be willing to make a clean break from their old lives and be enfolded into their new family, to abandon their past in place of a new future.

They also needed a sponsor, someone to vouch for them and to commit to their care. The sponsor usually volunteered. Little Willow offered to sponsor Harrison, which Tigerlily secretly thought was hilariously funny—the idea of such a small woman protecting and watching over such a powerful barrel of a man.

When it came to Mary's sponsor, there was only one clear choice: Tigerlily. Such a decision was unusual, since Tigerlily was younger than Mary, but the elders gave their approval because of the girls' unique and steadfast relationship to each other. Tigerlily could hardly contain her excitement. She already felt as close as a sister to Mary, and now they would be connected in the eyes of all her tribe members as well.

In the week before the initiation ceremony, Tigerlily worked to integrate Mary into the tribe and teach her everything she would need to know. She also racked her brain for a proper sponsor gift—something presented at the ceremony and intended symbolize the adoptee's new place in their tribe. It was supposed to be individualized, practical and special—a tall order.

But in order to plan the best gift, she needed to decide the most important thing of all: Mary's new name.

This was the most important responsibility of any sponsor. An adoptee's new name would forever affect their life moving forward and their place in the tribe. It was crucial to choose a meaningful name so that the adoptee could really feel like a new person and start their new life.

Now, as they sat by the stream washing their clothes only two days before the ceremony, Tigerlily couldn't help but voice her worries. Women from across the tribe had gathered new dresses and other clothing for Mary, so that she wasn't forced to wear the fairy dress every single day. The same had happened for Harrison, who looked a little odd clad in deerskin. The tribe was like that: whatever someone needed, others provided. It was how a family worked.

"Don't worry about it," Mary encouraged her. "I know you'll find the perfect name."

"It has to be perfect," Tigerlily replied. "It has to offer you the new life you deserve."

"Your tribe is offering me that new life, no matter what you call me," Mary said. "You could decide to name me 'Sleeping Bear' and I would be delighted."

Tigerlily laughed. "I promise it won't be that. I just… You've been through so much misery, and you deserve happiness. Forever."

Mary took Tigerlily's hand in hers. "I'm happy already," she said. "I have you. I have this new family. I can't describe how happy I am."

"And it's just the beginning," Tigerlily added eagerly. "Just wait until you really settle in here! There's so much to teach you, and so many people to get to know… You'll have dozens of new sisters and brothers. And I know it won't be long before you'll have a family of your own. All the young braves are already smitten with you. I wouldn't be surprised if you already have a husband and a baby this time next year!"

She had been so excited about Mary finally carving out the happy family she deserved that she didn't notice her friend's expression—until she caught sight of the pain in Mary's eyes. Instantly, she realized her mistake.

"Oh, Mary, I'm so sorry," she blurted. "I wasn't thinking… I can't believe I'd say something like that… right after Cornelius… I didn't mean…"

Mary smiled sadly. "It's not that, I promise," she assured her. "I know you were just thinking about my happiness, and I really do appreciate it. Cornelius wouldn't want me to live my life stuck in the past. The whole initiation ceremony is about moving on to my new life. But…" Her smile faltered. "I'm afraid I'm not meant to have that traditional family life."

"What do you mean?" Tigerlily asked. "Are you worried about being different? Being an outsider? Don't be! Any one of our braves would love to marry you!"

Mary shook her head. "No, that's not what I'm worried about. Your tribe has been so wonderful about welcoming me in… I know that they already see me as completely one of them. There's no separation there." She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "But I can't have a family, because… because I can't have children."

Tigerlily's jaw dropped open. She tried to think of what to say, but no words came.

"After Blackbeard captured me, I was so terrified that I would get pregnant," Mary said. Her eyes fixed on a cloud above their heads, like she was talking to the sky instead of to Tigerlily. "God only knew what Blackbeard would do to a helpless baby. I could never let that happen. So I mixed myself a potion to…" She grimaced, stumbling over the words. "…To make sure my womb could never nurture another life."

"Oh, Mary, no," Tigerlily gasped. She couldn't help the words that spilled out. "No, no—there's got to be something we can do. There's got to—that's not—it's not fair!"

"It's all right," Mary assured her, but there were tears in her eyes as well. "You all have given me so much. The one thing I can't have isn't going to take that away."

Tigerlily had no idea what words to offer—what words she could possibly offer—to give her friend the comfort she ached to give. So instead, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Mary, and the two girls wept together. They wept for their pasts, for the horrors they'd endured and the loved ones they'd lost. They wept for their current lives, which were riddled with nightmares and flashbacks, paralyzing panic attacks and guilty "what if?" accusations that echoed in their minds at night. And they wept for their futures, which were still shrouded in mystery. Would it ever be possible to truly, completely heal?

Finally, when the tears stopped, Mary took a deep breath. "We'll get through this. Together."

Tigerlily leaned closer, resting her forehead against Mary's. "You're right. We will."

"My father had a saying," Mary continued, "that he always used to repeat when times were rough: 'It's a long road that doesn't have a turn.' I used to tell myself the same thing while I was locked in Blackbeard's ship, through those long, lonely nights. It's a long road that doesn't have a turn."

"What does it mean?"

"It means that no road goes in the same direction forever," Mary explained. "It means that no matter how awful your life is right now, it won't stay like that. The road will turn a different direction, and so will your life. You just need to keep walking."

Tigerlily pondered Mary's words long after the clothes were washed and dried, long after the other chores were finished for the day, long after the two girls had settled into their beds that night. She meditated on Mary's explanation, turning the idea—and its implications—over and over in her head. But more than that, she wondered at Mary's resilience, at her undefeatable spirit, at her impossible ability to still see good in the world and to hope for even more. Tigerlily thought, and thought, and thought.

And suddenly, she knew Mary's new name.