9. Life
"She's asking to see you."
It is Maia who approaches. I do not turn to see her, but I can hear her voice as it whispers from somewhere behind me. Then I see her shadow come into my sight, and now she can see me as well. She speaks my name.
"Julen… What have you done?"
Stupid. I reach into the river, beside which I have been crouching, and scrub as hard as I can at the paint across my face. It has to come off. It has to…
Again, there is that whispered voice. "Why, love? Why?"
"My mother died for me. I want to die for Alandi."
"No, my boy," Maia whispers in my ear. "Your mother never died for you."
I cannot keep the stabbing anger from rising in my belly. "What do you mean? Of course she…"
"She lived for you." It is enough to cut short all my protests. "She fought for life until her very last breath, so that you could have the chance to grow. And that is easily as courageous as dying for someone. Don't die for Alandi, precious child. Live for her."
I wonder if that is my mother's shade I can hear on the passing breeze. Live for her, my wonderful son. Be a poet, healer, spinner of dreams. All these things are within your reach.
All you need to do is reach for them.