Jem believed in miracles, he believed in gods and life after death. He believed that every person had a purpose in life.
He used to think his purpose was to help Will become his best being.
And maybe it really was. But maybe his second chance at life gave him a second purpose.
"She hasn't been the same since grandfather died," Owen told him. "She lives in self-imposed isolation, doesn't let anyone near her anymore. I think her will to live died with grandfather."
Aside from his skin, which was a shade darker, Owen looked like a calmer version of Will.
But while you could see the sarcasm on Will's lips even in his sleep, Owen's gaze was steady. There was something compassionate about him that prompted the other person to get rid of all their worries.
Jem felt overcome with emotion. It had been so long since he had met anyone who was family, who was even remotely familiar to him.
The monastery had never become a home for him. In over sixty years he had never seen a friend in any of the other monks. There was something lonely about life there. Those who went there as monks took an oath to swear to the gods. Surrender to health and love.
It had never been difficult for Jem. He believed in the myths. His mother had raised him to believe.
But the silence in the monastery was sometimes too loud for Jem.
He could do without speaking, words had never been important to him. Tessa and Will were the linguists, the readers. He had always preferred to listen to them.
It was the music he was missing.
But if he couldn't have it, he spoke the words of Will's letters. He knew it was against his oath, forbidden to speak. And actually he was always a prime example of the following.
It was a sin for which he never apologized or justified to anyone. Because it simply requires the right approach.
And when he finally left the convent to look for Tessa, he also left his vows behind.
Strong as the rules were, the monastery was never a prison. Everyone was allowed to leave whenever they wanted. Many members came to the monastery to seek forgiveness. Healing for body or soul. There were some who left as soon as they were at peace with themselves. Others like him who came to be cured of whatever diseases left the brotherhood after their healing.
However, once Jem healed, he had nowhere to go. Going back wasn't an option. Will and Tessa had their lives without him. He hadn't heard from his uncle since that letter years before. And he had no other family.
So he stayed.
He endured the silence to heal others through the knowledge of the Brotherhood. To bring hope to lost souls.
Letting Tessa and Will be happy was the right thing to do.
But the more Owen said about Tessa, the more he realized that maybe he should have come sooner. If he had come ten years earlier, he could have said goodbye to Will properly. Might even have given him some peace to take with him.
And he should have been there for Tessa. Mourn with her to have someone who understands the grief.
After Owen recognized Jem, he invited him into the institute. He offered him a place to rest. To recharge his batteries, to eat something, to sleep before he would move on.
But how could Jem have rested? How could he have paused now when he was so close to finding Tessa. He also asked Owen for the address so he could go to her.
Owen then smiled. "I'll drive you there."
Surprised lifted Jem his head. "It won't be necessary. I'm sure you're already expected at the party."
Owen waved him off. "Oh, they can manage without me. They're probably all there anyway, getting to know little Marcus so nobody misses me." Owen had that look that only a new father could have. This pride of having created something so great that it changed the world.
He opened the passenger door of his automobile and looked expectantly at Jem.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to continue driving the rest of the way.
Then he really wasn't the youngest anymore, and he couldn't say that the long journey had been easy for him.
But the moment the engine roared, a frightening thought struck him.
What if Tessa didn't recognize him after all this time?
She had always had the gift of seeing his soul when she looked at him. To really see him. What if her eyes no longer recognized him? Or, worse, no longer saw in him the man she had loved so much at the time.
When she thought he wasn't worth remembering all these years.