Chapter 16
Promise
'Jill,
Let me get straight to the point. You know how much I hate saying mushy stuff, but I miss you. We all do. Rick said you looked well when he saw you a while ago, but I want to see for myself. Why don't you come visit anymore? I haven't been able to go to The Valley for awhile with my dad being so sick, but I hope to get down there soon. Until then, why don't you come next weekend and we'll go visit Claire. No mushy stuff, no crying, we'll just go and see our friend. We'd both love to see you Jilly. Come to my house next Saturday if you're in.
-Karen'
I'm siting in a corner of my house with the letter in my hand. I've lost count of how many times I've read it, and the words still don't make sense.
'I haven't talked to Karen since I was eighteen.' I think. 'That was three years ago. Why is she just now contacting me?' When I first left Mineral Town for here we saw each other almost every week. She'd bring Rick with her, and it was almost like the old days. Karen and Rick sign almost as well as I do, and we were constantly talking to each other. One day, she just stopped coming here and I stopped going there. No goodbyes, no explanation, no best friend. It had been okay though. I'd been there before.
'I need some fresh air.' I think, and I grab my backpack and a sweater. It had snowed all day yesterday and most of the day today, but now the sky was crystal clear. I begin to walk, and I don't have to think about my destination. My feet know where they're going. When I get to the Goddess pond, Skye is already there. He's sitting under the far side of the Harvest Sprite tree with his eyes closed. His senses are sharp, and he knows when I'm there as soon as I catch a glimpse of him. He opens his eyes and smiles, and I walk over and sit down next to him. Skye studies my face for awhile, and I guess after he's figured out whether I'm going to have an emotional breakdown, he speaks.
'Evening beautiful.'
'Evening Skye.' I sign back. I look into his eyes and realize how fixated they are on me. I want to tell him about the letter and Karen and Claire, but I'd never find the right words to say.
'You look well.' he signs to me. I instinctively roll my eyes.
'Yeah, I'm not crying for once. That's a plus.' Skye laughs and a give him a tiny smile. 'Your sign language is getting better by the way.' I tell him, and he gives me a rare genuine smile.
'Why of course. I needed to learn how to talk to my darling Jill, didn't I?' His lips form. I smile, happy with his words, and Skye takes my hand. He looks as if he wants to say something else, so I stare at him inquisitively.
'I'm going to be,' he pauses, 'gone for the next week or so. I have some business to attend to in the city.' My body freezes and Skye grips my hand tighter and chuckles. 'Don't worry beautiful, I'll be back. Be a good girl while I'm gone.' I slowly nod my head, letting his words sink in.
'Where are you going?' I sign to him, and he gives me a mischievous smile.
'Why? Thinking of following me?' his lips ask.
'No, it's just that I might go somewhere this weekend as well.' my hands say. Skye raises his eyebrows in surprise.
'Oh? Where is my darling going?' He asks, a more serious look on his face.
'Why? Thinking of following me?' I sign with a pointed look and he laughs. We smile at each other before settling into a comfortable silence. After a while, I realize how cold it's gotten, and the wind begins to make me shiver.
'Are you cold, beautiful?' Skye asks me. I blush and nod sheepishly. Skye chuckles before grabbing me and placing me in his lap. He wraps his arms around me and places his chin on my shoulder.
'Better?' he signs in front of me so I can see. I nod and he kisses the side of my head. My entire body is warm, and my heart is racing, but I'm not anxious. I'm completely at ease in his arms and I feel myself relaxing into him. Skye tightens his grip on me, and we both sit in silence, taking in the beauty of the night and each others warmth. I start to think about all the people who've let me down during my life. I lost so many friends when I lost my hearing, and it was as if that one event took my entire life away. Now, as I'm sitting in Skye's arms, I realize how much I don't want to lose him. I may not survive losing another person I care about.
'Promise me you'll come back Skye.' I sign to him. He looks surprised for a moment and looks deep into my eyes. Skye doesn't know my past. He doesn't know all that I've been through and all that I've lost, but in that moment, I felt like he understood me in a way that had never been done before. So when he begins to stroke my head and signs 'I promise', I know without a doubt I have finally found someone I can believe in.
A.N. Guess who's alive guys! Sorry I've been gone for so long but thanks for reading. Someone reviewed and told me to update so I tried to get a new chapter out asap. I promise it won't be as long next time, and please continue to read and review. This story now has 50 reviews and I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. Thank you so much!
-Goldengirl
UPDATE: Someone just pointed out in the a review that Skye whispered to Jill 'I promise,' but she's deaf so that makes no sense. I'm so sorry about that and i've now fixed it. Thanks for reading and thank you for pointing that out.