Light as a Feather

Epilogue

        An old woman sat in the corner of a room, staring out the window. Her hair was gray, and wrinkles lined her body. There were vines and flowers surrounding her, the vines mingling with each other. She thought of her late husband, and of their children. She thought of how rewarding her life had been, and though it was scary to think about, she thought about the future, and how long she had to live. She was very deep in thought and she was holding very still, as if nothing could move her. 

        She whipped around as she heard a knock on the door. All she could see was a dark silhouette at first. She soon figured out that it was her eldest son, who was about forty. He resembled his father almost perfectly, right down to the bright eyes. "Mother?" he said. 

        "Yes, Leo? You can come in. You know that." 

        He stepped through the door a little bit more, and she could see that there was a girl behind him. She had bright blonde hair and brown eyes. She looked terrified at the moment, however. "Ella... Ella has become the family... you know," Leo stammered. He turned to his daughter, who looked about seventeen. Ella faced her dad, shaking her head. 

        "Dad, I can't do this. I know you explained all of this, but... I have no idea how to..." she rambled. She had tears in her eyes and her voice was shaking. 

        Her dad placed his hands on Ella's shoulders. "Honey, this is your Grandma Annabelle. And she is going to tell you some stories to make you feel better. I promise." It looked like he was at his wit's end, but he was smiling and trying to make her feel better. 

        Annabelle could tell that the girl was terrified beyond compare. She reached for the teenager's hands, and Ella hesitantly placed her slender hands in Annabelle's old ones after turning away from her father. Annabelle smiled and, eyes glinting, said, "Oh, darling. I have so much to tell you."