The Gift

The Fox Whistle

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Brooke exclaims, coming to my side. She swings her arm around me, "is it something I said?" 

"No!" My voice is very thick. She looks really worried. Why have I ruined the beautiful moment of making friends with Brooke? I've ruined it all. The anger inside me is bubbling up so ferociously it's a steaming volcano. But after all the anger comes the grief all at once, gnawing at my heart and shattering me to pieces.

"I'm so sorry!" I choke, tears streaming down my face. My head is pounding, and my hands are shaking. I pull away from her. I'm being so selfish I can't even recognise myself. I bury my head in my hands. Very slowly, Brooke moves close to me. All she wants is for me to calm down. Her fingers delicately caress my back, and she sighs.

"No need to be sorry. It's okay," she says in a voice so soft. "Everything will be okay,"

I stop sniffling. Brooke's voice reminds me of Mother. Soft as a feather. Brooke makes me feel closer to Mother than ever. Oh, I miss you, Mother! I miss you so very much. I don't know how I'm going to cope with all this on my own. But, then, a thought comes to me. Like a shooting star, lighting up my mind. I'm not alone. Brooke is here. I sigh and lift my head up to face her. Her beautiful smile lights a fire in my soul. I hug her, tight. She hugs me back. Everything will be okay.

Finally, we break up. My cheeks are still wet and warm, and my eyes are still shining from tears. I was so full of grief... I couldn't control it. All of a sudden, Brooke opens her palm. The fox whistle sits patiently on her hand. She looks at the fox whistle, and then back at me. I know she's waiting.

"I... I, Grandpa gave it to me," I sniff, wiping the wetness off my eyes. "We were so close, Grandpa and I. He was a huge part of my life, of my heart. We would always play together in the open fields in the Summer, chuckling and laughing. We would play hide and seek, pick ripe fruit from trees, and he would tell me stories by the fire. Beautiful, imaginative stories. Stories about the world, stories about his life, and stories about magic. He wasn't ordinary, Grandpa. He really wasn't. He was special. His favourite animal was a fox," I hold up the fox whistle, "and that's why whenever I see a fox, I feel closer than ever to him than ever." I remember the white fox I met in the woods. "He was the best Grandpa I could've ever asked for."

"Special in what way?" Asked Brooke.

"Grandpa was very artistic and creative. He saw the world differently than most people. That was because he believed. He let me look at the world through this eyes. He let me believe. He taught me how to see the colours through every dull image. Taught me how to find the light, in every shadow." I say this with confidence, because I want her to know what a great man he was. But I won't tell Brooke I can speak to animals. That would be breaking a great promise I made to Mother, Father and myself. 

"Wow, sounds like he was... a really good person," Brooke says silently. "You must have loved him a lot."

I nod shakily before my heart fills up with grief again. I miss Grandpa ever so much. I take a deep breath. Before he gave the fox whistle to me, he told me that no matter how far away he was, he would always be in my heart, in my memory, and in the fox whistle. Maybe if I try to figure out what is the purpose of the fox whistle is, then maybe... it would make him happy, wherever he was. I've tried so hard to figure out what the fox whistle does, but to me, it still remains a mystery. I try to swallow the hard lump in my throat, but it's no use. All Grandpa wanted was for me to be happy. He didn't deserve what he got.  

"I'm really sorry," Brooke's face looks really pained. Is she gonna cry? "I know how you feel. My dog, Fern, died as well. Now that I really think about it, I'm really devastated, even though it happened two years ago."

One tear slips down my face. "It's okay," my voice is brittle, "it's not you're fault." Finally, the grief goes away. My heart warms slightly. "I'm just so happy you're here to comfort me. I mean, I've only met you, but I can already see you're a true friend." That's when she smiles. Her smile is like a rainbow lighting up the sky. The ice in my heart melts. The loneliness and sorrow goes away.

"Aww, thanks," Brooke hugs me again, eyes shining. I wipe the tear away. I feel like a bonding has formed between us. I think this means we're friends. I almost laugh out loud in joy as we break up.

"No, don't thank me. Thank you!" I exclaim. All of a sudden, there's a swift knock on the door and all of a sudden a tall, thin lady walks in our room.

"It's time for lights off now, sweethearts," she states.

"Oh!" Brooke and I exchange looks. I switch off the lights.

"Goodnight!" She chants, walking out the door.

"Goodnight!" We both reply in unison, then giggle. Brooke makes her way to her bed. 

I get comfortable on my pillow, looking at the stars twinkling through the small window. Then the same thought hits me again.

"What's out there... in the forest?" I look at Brooke for an answer.

She's sound asleep. Better not wake her up. I admire her dark curly hair as it glimmers in the moonlight. My eyelids start getting heavy.

"Goodnight, Brooke," I whisper ever so softly into the night.

I can't help but think... does the fox whistle have anything to do with this mysterious forest? Does this Maledicta have anything to do with this? I'll have to find out... with or without Brooke.

When the time's right.  

Then, sleep devours me whole.