Kitchen Witch

35 | Return

Sarah climbed the lighthouse ladder stairs as fast as she could, with Charlie stuck at the bottom, unable to climb, barking feverishly, urging her on. She crested the last floor, eyes sweeping the circular floor, taking in the debris. She quickly found Charlotte slumped on the floor, blood pooling on the floor.

"Char – stay with me!" Sarah called frantically, making her way over and gently shaking her.

Charlotte moaned, slowly lifting her head to look into her friends' worried eyes. "Did it work? Are they okay?"

Sarah nodded while anxiously searching for the source of blood; noticing the cuts on her hand, she answered, "You did it, Char, you did it. The storm has calmed, and Scotty has been on the radio and in touch with the boat. They're okay." She could see the relief take over as Charlotte lowered her head again and sank further against the wall. "We need to get you to help Char," she said as she patted her pockets for her phone.

"No, I'm ok. Just help me up and take me to him."

"You aren't in any condition to go anywhere; you're bleeding all over the floor. For God's sake! We need to stop the bleeding." 

Sarah's eyes swept the room for something to help; noticing the jagged glass, she picked it up and ripped the bottom ruffle from Charlotte's maxi dress. Pulling a long piece of fabric off. She placed it in her teeth and tore it into two. Carefully she picked up one of Charlotte's hands, now noticing the cut wasn't so bad despite the blood that had pooled on the floor. She wrapped both of Charlotte's hands in the green fabric and gave her friend a solid once over. 

She was pale, ghostly pale, but the look on her face said she wasn't going to take no for an answer. Sarah sighed and reached out, helping Charlotte up. 

"Slow and steady. I'll go down first, and you go behind me. If you even think you feel faint, let me know."

The broken window pane let in the familiar warm breeze and, with it, the sweet smell of sunshine. Charlotte could feel her energy improving and took Sarah's hand. She wouldn't be running marathons anytime soon, but she could make it down the lighthouse. Slow and steady, the pair took the ladder down the three flights. Charlotte could hear Charlie barking feverishly as her feet touched the ground floor. He rushed her, surrounding her in circles of golden fur and kisses. 

"It's ok, I'm here – good boy." She laughed, feeling grateful and giddy with emotion. The laughter unleashed a floodgate that soon turned to sobs.

"Char, it's ok, it's ok – you did it," Sarah reassured her.

"I saw them – Sarah, my sister, and my mom and dad." Rubbing her bandaged hand, she added. "I could feel my mom holding my hand. I wasn't alone." Charlotte released a broken sob. "I could feel all of you with me, holding me up."

"Oh, Char–" Sarah choked back her own sob and reached out to hold her friend's hand. "You are not alone."

Charlotte dozed in and out of consciousness for most of the hour-long drive to North Lake. She had taken a seat in the back with Charlie's big, heavy head resting on her lap. The windows were down, the air blowing a fresh post-storm scent into the back seat. She could hear Sarah's muffled voice talking over the Bluetooth with Scotty, reassuring her that he was in contact with the boat and they were on their way back. 

Charlotte pulled at the makeshift fabric bandage on her hand, trying to process the events of the last few hours. She rubbed her right hand, willing her memory to feel the weight of her mother's hand in hers again. The thought of holding her mother's hand, joining in with the power of the birds, and the naturalness of it all, had her shaking her head.