The Cross Over (Silent Moments Series: Book 7)

Chapter 4

The idea of never being able to talk about it, of carrying this burden indefinitely, was a daunting prospect. Yet, at that moment, the pain was too raw, the emotions too jumbled to articulate. Maybe not ever, I thought, a silent acknowledgment of my current state of mind. I took a deep, steadying breath, trying to compose myself. It was moments like these that reminded me of the complexity of human emotions, of the intricate dance between sharing and withholding, between strength and vulnerability. As I slowly walked away from the kitchen, the weight of the evening's events settled on my shoulders. It was a reminder that while we were rebuilding Sanctum's physical structures, we were also navigating the delicate process of rebuilding our inner selves. In this new world we were creating, finding the balance between public duties and private pains was an ongoing journey, one that required patience, understanding, and, perhaps most importantly, time.

Sitting next to Gaia, I let out a heavy sigh. "Not my finest moment," I admitted, feeling the weight of the evening's tensions.

Indra, however, saw it differently. "I disagree," she interjected. "I think you handled that well."

Her comment sparked a brief exchange between her and Gaia. "You would think that," Gaia retorted. "After my father died, crying was forbidden."

"We were at war," Indra responded matter-of-factly. "It made you strong."

"It made me become a Fleimkepa," Gaia shot back, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness.

Indra remained silent for a moment, taking a thoughtful sip of her soup. The conversation shifted to deeper introspection. "The question is, who is the Fleimkepa without a flame?"

Indra's reply was philosophical, almost resigned. "We all have to find our own new path," she said before leaving the room.

Alone with Gaia, I turned to her, a sense of gratitude filling my words. "I just realized that I never thanked you. The flame was your whole world, and yet you chose to save Madi. I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you. Thank you."

Gaia paused, her expression somber. She gestured towards a notebook on the table. "You should, um, see this," she said.

As I glanced down at the notebook, confusion set in. The drawings were perplexing, a window into a world that was both familiar and foreign.

Gaia, sensing my confusion, clarified, "She's drawing memories that are not her own."

"Sheidheda?" I asked, a hint of concern in my voice.

"I don't know," Gaia admitted. "It could be any of the Commanders or all of them. I'll keep an eye on it."

I offered her a small smile, appreciative of her presence in Madi's life. "I'm glad she has you in her life," I said sincerely.

Flipping through the pages, one drawing caught my attention – it was of me. Gaia provided context: "The night Warhead knelt to Heda. I'm sorry I missed that."

"It seems like another world," I murmured, setting the notebook back on the table.

Suddenly, a loud boom in the distance shattered the quiet of the room. Indra's voice cut through the tension. "New world, same problems."

Gaia nodded towards me. "I got Madi," she said. "Go on."

I muttered a quick "Thank you," grabbing my jacket and rushing out the door behind Indra, ready to face whatever new challenge awaited us.

***

Indra's authoritative voice filled the palace hall as soon as we entered. "We heard an explosion. Miller, report," she demanded, her tone indicating the urgency of the situation.