4: Necessary Communication

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"Vespie! No! Why did you do that?" Papa looked at Mamà wide eyed

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"Vespie! No! Why did you do that?" Papa looked at Mamà wide eyed. "You're sure?"

Mamà nodded, her pretty black curly hair bouncing around her face. Papa held me close, his body shaking as he sat me down on a counter. He touched my face and smoothed my hair down, worried eyes darting over me before a sadness settled on him. Water ran from his closed eyes.

"I ok, Papa, see? No cwy, Papa."

But Papa didn't look at me. "You know what happens now, don't you?" he said to Mamà.

Again she only nodded, as he crushed her into a hug with me, kissing her. Why were they crying? What happened now?

Mamà and I moved away. And I learned not to bring attention to myself, staying under the radar my parents were always checking. To protect me he'd always said. 

My alarm clock blaring shook me from the memories of my four year old self's world imploding for some stupid attention grabbing thing I'd done. I'd sat awake all night on a motel bed since Fox dropped me off and told me he'd be outside in his car. All night in the brightly lit room, I suffocated under a fear of shadows and the weight of everything I'd learned the day before. Dad had hidden things from me. This would be something to cry to Mamà about, but she was who knows where.

I let the alarm scream electronic obscenities at me for five solid minutes before I realised the world would go on even though I was sinking. Numbly, I took the purple box, identical to the ones my ring and bracelets had come in from my purse.

We lived with distance and seeing each other sparingly, but Dad never let me feel his absence. He was there. Every night he read me bedtime stories over the phone, watched movies with me on facetime, discussed life goals, supported me through sports, crappy friendships and everything a normal dad would do. I'd always felt his love.

Love that I'd left trapped in a box all night. Inside it, layers of thin delicate chains that matched the bracelets I wore, all looped together to form a twisty shiny drapey necklace. Dad, I wish I could talk to you.

The necklace stuck in the box as I lifted it out and only came free after a tug. Under it was a note I read after slipping it on.

My Vesper.

I love you, Minnow.

You'll hear some things, and I know you'll have questions. I'll try to answer them some day. For now, I hope your mother is able to explain how and why and what is coming—to tell you her part in this story.

I never took the stone as they claim, all I've ever done is protect it, as was my duty. Like I've protected you all your life. Which is why, no matter what, I need you to stay far away from all of this.

I'm sorry, Minnow, but know that everything we did was for loving you.

Papa

Mamà? I couldn't imagine what she had to do with anything. Except, you know, not telling me that Dad was the High Grand Water Sorcerer.

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