Healing hands

A healer only lives twice

I stepped out of the house, the back-deck was hot under my bare feet. The birds sang softly in the evergreen trees that housed them, and a small house finch fluttered over to me, landing on the wooden railing.
"Morning, Lyra, got any seeds?" He chirped.
"Not today, sorry."
He dipped his head in disappointment and hopped away. The clean air played with my curls while I walked down the steps onto the path that led to the forest. Green trees swayed in the wind, and flowers waved at me as I passed them. I'm a healer, so I can talk to animals, and, well, heal people. Dew rested on the grass, and water ran coolly down the stream. I hopped across stones that cut through the water to get across-- you couldn't jump it, the stream was as wide as I was tall. I heard a voice in the distance, and smiled. I could see Harper, my best-friend, sitting under a tree, leaning against the base, reading to himself.I crept up behind him, and--- "BOO!" I yelled, jumping on him. He threw his book in the air, and caught me in his arms. He squeezed his eyes shut, and let out a stiff breath. "Why.. Do you do that?"
"Because it's funny," I giggled, getting up. "I came to get you for breakfast."
"Pancakes and bacon again?" He winced.
"Sadly so." I got to my feet and brushed off my yellow sweater. "But this time, we bought four cans of whipped cream."
He reached for his book, which had fallen pages-first into a patch of dirt. "Your aunt overestimates us."
"Why is that?"
"Pancakes, bacon, and whipped cream for three days in a row takes serious courage!" We hooked our arms across each other's shoulders as we walked back to the house.
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"Alright, who wants more whipped cream?" Aunt May asked, waving the can in front of us. "We've barely made it through two!"
"I'm good," I groaned.
"In that case, we'll clean up. Harper, help me grab these dishes."
Harper piled the dishes into his arms, and made his way to the kitchen sink. Aunt May was helping me put the leftovers into tupperwares when the doorbell rang. She left to answer it, and returned with a letter.
"It's for you," She beamed, setting it down in front of me.
"Who's it from?'
"Just open it!" Harper yelled over the running water he was filling the sink with.
I slid my thumb underneath the seal of the envelope-- it was one of the fancy, red, wax-stamps, and the press was in the shape of a rose. I slid out the letter and began to read.
"What does it say?" Aunt May asked, leaning over my shoulder.

"It's just spam mail," I shrugged, tossing it back on the table. "Something about a 'superhero' summer-school."
She picked it up and read it over. "Do you want to go?"
"What? I can't--"
"It'd be good for you to be around others your age that have similar... abilities. And you could learn a lot."
"Wait.. you don't actually believe this, do you?"
Harper walked in, wiping his hands with a towel. "It sounds fun."
Aunt May sighed, "I contacted the government awhile ago, and they said they had this program. Well, this is it." She waved her hand, motioning to the paper.
"I'll go if he goes," I jerked my head, motioning to Harper, and crossed my arms. "Alright," She smiled. "I'll see what I can do."
"Do I get any say in this?" Harper objected.
"No, Harper," Aunt May and I said simultaneously.
"O-kay." He turned on his heel and returned to the kitchen.
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I fumbled with my collar as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The 'superhero' summer-school-- more formerly known as Skyline Charter School-- provided stiff uniforms that made your arms itch. Harper, although he didn't technically have any powers, was allowed to tag along with me-- like a sort of moral support, I guess.
I grabbed my bag and hopped down the stairs to the living room. Harper was reading another book, and sitting on the couch. He was wearing a similar uniform to mine. "Ready?" Aunt May asked, popping out of the doorway.
I nodded.
"Seems so," Harper said, standing up but with his gaze still fixed on his book.
We passed through the house to the garage-- we saw rain pouring down as it opened. The click-click of the hatchback car meant it was unlocked, so we opened the doors and jumped in. We pulled out and set off to the school.
"Lyra, can you get the GPS going?" Aunt May asked, turning onto a busier road that led to the highway.
I fumbled with the device, "What's the address?"
"It was in the letter, let me see if I can find it," She murmured, ducking down to look in her purse by my feet.
"May!" Harper yelled as we swerved from one side of the road to the next.
She shot back up in her seat, "what?"
We crashed into a dazed deer, and slid off the road.
"Oh, my gosh," I panicked. The window-wipers and the rain made the majority of noise in the car.
"Is everyone okay?" Aunt May breathed.