Finding Hearts (Nanowrimo Entry)

Finding Hearts Chap. 2

When I awoke, I knew instantly with a sinking feeling in my stomach that Seraph was gone. It was more than odd, not feeling his presence in the things around me, his voice in the wind, the way he would ruffle my hair in a passing breeze, the warmth of his smile in rays of sunlight. I was all alone now and it was a dreadful feeling.

It was not Seraph's fault, the Goddess herself had set these rules in stone long ago, but whatever his reasons for leaving, I still felt betrayed. Seraph had been with me since birth, in human terms he was my father, and yet now he was gone and I would never see him again, not even in death. I found it was a harsh reality I had awoken too, but Seraph had had faith in me even if I had none myself, and I had promised him I would try to go on. So summoning my courage I pulled myself from the sand, getting shakily to my feet. I couldn't stay out in the open like this, I was lucky no one had found me yet, now that I was acceptable prey.

Dusting the sand from my body slowly and stretching my muscles, I discovered that nearly all of my previous pain and suddenly disappeared while I was sleeping.

How long had I been out? Several days?

All that remained of my pain was a slight stiffness.

Surely even a few days rest was not enough to have relieved me completely, my legs were not even sore.

Had this been Seraph's last gift to me?

The moment I thought of it, I knew in my stone heart it was true, and I could not help but smile. Seraph had done more than I could have ever asked for, even until the very end he gave me everything he had. I could not suppress a frown, or the tears that followed. I would miss him. There was an awful ache forming in my chest, one I was sure would always be with me. One I wasn't sure I could live with...

I tried to wipe the tears from my eyes, I had no time for this now, I had to figure out how to live on my own first. One that was settled and I was safe, I would have all the time in the world to cry. I had to try and think of something positive...and then suddenly it hit me, kicking my heels in the sand, the stones of my feet rubbing lightly against the sand, could I run now?

It was worth an attempt. If I was still unable, than both mine and Seraph's continued efforts will have been a waste. I could only hope that was not the case. Both nervous and excited, about to experience something new and wanting to know the outcome, my blood began to rise, my stone beating faster and faster. Balling my fists and sending a quick prayer to Seraph, desperately hoping that he could still hear me, I dug my feet into the ground, bent my knees, and pushed off...

It felt as though I was flying! The world around me suddenly blurred, everything smudging as I moved faster and faster until everything was only a smear of colors. The sun right in the middle of the sky, as if coming to greet me, beat warmly on my skin. The wind assaulted me, whipping my hair from my face and stinging my eyes, and for a moment it was almost as if Seraph was there with me. I could almost hear his voice in this roaring gust. The sand flew in my wake, forming dust clouds. I was feeling something new. In my stomach it was almost like butterflies, but at the same time something else entirely, and it was filling my body with a new type of energy. Was this adrenaline? No, still it was something more, a joyous rush. This, this was freedom.

Exhilarated, I screamed at the top of my lungs, holding nothing back, and it was like I had opened something that would never again close. That something rushed out of me and I yelled, taking with it the burdens of my heart. It was a wonderful feeling. I silently thanked Seraph for gifting me with such capabilities, for not letting me give up. I no longer regretted any of the work nor any of my suffering. How could I? When this, I realized wide eyed, was the best moment of my life yet.