Insight

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Landen drove us home. Feeling the exhaustion come over us, we laid our bodies down, clinging to one another. Sleep came immediately. Rising in synch, we drifted onto the porch and rested on one of the couches as we watched the sun rise over the hill.

As the night's events raced over and over in our minds, we didn't speak. Landen played with my hands, studying my fingertips, and the ring that still gleamed as if it were brand new. I tried remembering how many times I'd concentrated on a memory to help others, wondering if they'd seen what I was thinking. The only difference I could find was the connection that Olivia had to her aunt.

Olivia was the mirror image of her mother. It was as if, for the first time, her aunt had let her sister go, passing the grief that she carried as she raised Olivia. Thinking of Olivia, I wondered, not doubting anything at that point, if Olivia's mother had somehow helped me that night...if she were the light that came out of Olivia's aunt.

We watched as Aubrey pulled up. She reached for a basket in the front seat of the car and made her way to the door. Aubrey then peered through the window, and not seeing anyone, she set the basket on the porch and turned to leave. She hesitated and looked slowly toward the couch where we were laying, and her eyes searched, not focusing on anything. She walked back on the porch toward us.

We glanced at each other, wondering if she could see us. Aubrey went to speak, and, holding her hand out, she hesitated, checking her words before she began. Smiling at herself, she then looked in our direction.

"Landen...I'm sorry. We both are. But you have to understand, you're our little boy...you're so much like your father, ready to risk your life everyday to bring someone else safely home." She smiled at herself, looking down the empty road.

"Truth is, I dreamed of Willow, too. I could see you with her. I remember keeping you awake at night so you could sleep through the day, to see her longer while she slept in her time...you needed to have a childhood...so did she...that was our intent. We failed to see that you never carried the soul of a child. You were born for the task before you, and the way you feel about Willow is not only your reward, but also your weapon. I don't want you to be upset. Being angry at the mistakes made by the heart will only leave you bitter. The time taken from you will be repaid beyond your imagination. Your father understands why you've built these walls, everyone does, I promise. He'll wait for you to come to him. No more lectures. You're a man now, and we're all waiting for you to teach us, to tell us how to help you fill your purpose." Aubrey looked down at her feet. I could feel her remorse.

"Please just forgive us, trust us," Aubrey said with tears pooling in her eyes.

Landen couldn't take another word. He woke himself up and ran down the stairs, almost tripping on the basket in the threshold. Running to her, he scooped her up, and happy tears flowed out of her pale green eyes. Giving him a moment, I woke and stayed in our bed, feeling him change her mood.

After a shower, I found my sketchbook. The first sketch I drew was of the room Olivia was in, struggling to call back every detail. Taking a deep breath, I faced my demons, literally. Landen came in the room, breakfast in hand; hesitating as he saw the outline of the hospital room, he didn't stop me. He simply sat down and calmly watched as the demons came to life in black and white.

August knocked softly on the front door; we felt him coming and were waiting for him. Landen led August to the kitchen table. He was carrying what looked to be a large scroll. I followed shyly behind them.

"Interesting night," he commented as he sat down. We both smiled warily and settled at the table with August.

"What is this?" Landen asked, looking at the scroll.