My Eywa || AVATAR

33 🍂 Farewell 🍂

I woke up in the afternoon, my eyelids heavy as lead, immersed in a state of drowsiness and fatigue. The night before, Kiri, Lo'ak, Neteyam, and I had clung to time. It was our last night together, and we hadn't been able to part ways until sleep had practically overtaken us.

As I sat up in bed, the weight of realization suddenly overwhelmed me: Today was the day.

Upon remembering, I sighed overwhelmed, falling back onto my mattress with force, exhausted and defeated.

The sun, which had previously bathed the room in a golden warmth, as if through a sepia filter, now blurred into shades of gray.

Today was the day of the ceremony, the day a new Olo'eyktan would ascend. Jake would desert, leave the forest with his family. And Neteyam, Lo'ak, and Kiri would drift away from my life.

As I reluctantly prepared for the ceremony, my mind flooded with recent memories.

The days leading up to this had been absolutely unforgettable. Neteyam and I had become inseparable, sharing every minute together. We experienced moments of pure happiness, enjoying our closeness like never before. We had fun riding pa'li as we engaged in playful races. We soared through Pandora's skies mounted on Taw. Simultaneously, we also relished the quiet nights, cuddled together, kissing in the moonlight.

Kiri and Lo'ak, amidst their other friendships, had chosen to be remarkably present, showering me with time and affection to create a sense of uniqueness. Their efforts made me feel truly special.

Amidst the excitement and nostalgia of the past days, I had miraculously found time to prepare gifts for Kiri, Lo'ak, Tuk, and Neteyam. They were a farewell symbol and a reminder of everything we had shared. But more than anything, I wanted them to have something to remember me by in their new home. Carefully, I packed the gifts into a backpack that I would take with me to the ceremony.

Upon leaving my room, I ran into Harper, who immediately noticed my subdued demeanor and quickly approached with a warm and understanding expression.

"Do you have the gifts?" she asked gently, eyeing my backpack ready to go.

"Yes," I replied listlessly.

Harper embraced me affectionately, trying to comfort me with her closeness. "Come on, join me," she said sweetly, "let's grab something to eat before we head out."

"I'm not hungry," I confessed honestly.

She looked at me with compassion, understanding my feelings. "I get it, but you'll still come with me," she insisted, gently taking my shoulders and guiding me to the makeshift dining area where humans shared their meals. "Jake and Neytiri have a lot to prepare before the ceremony; let's leave them alone until then," she added.

We reached the dining area, and I only drank water; anguish had stolen my appetite. During the meal, an air of despondency permeated the place. No matter how close we were to Jake and his family, the situation weighed on all of us. He was a widely loved and respected leader. Empathy for his sad situation filled us all with sorrow, while the uncertainty about the imminent changes due to his departure also troubled us, keeping us uneasy and somewhat fearful.

Alongside Harper, Norm, Max, and other scientists, we boarded the helicopter once we all felt ready after sharing a meal together. I made sure to bring my air mask and special binoculars that seamlessly attached to it, allowing me to use them in the open air.

Our destination was the Tree of Souls, the sacred place where the momentous ceremony would take place. As we flew there, I sat next to Harper, who embraced me from behind. Sad and yet comforted in her arms, I let myself be, unable to distance myself from her affection.