Among Giant Leaves: Magical Realism

Betrayal?

"Think about what you're doing, Amla. Think hard. Please, for friendship's sake if nothing else."

I go through the open door and walk along the path toward my home. I'll let her betray Mar if she wants to. Maybe that really is what she wants.

Or maybe she'll change her mind about letting herself get wrapped up with Atar, the thief of all our ways. The destroyer of everything we love.

She knows it's better not to let the land be turned into something artificial, to kill off the animal's habitation. To turn it into our trash heap. To bulldoze the herbs we've talked to all this time. She's been my closest friend forever. She knows. She might not let desire ruin her judgment. . .

Maybe I could be with Mar.

We could fight the destruction of the land together!

The trees would thank us.

Maybe he could be successor as head of the council — if something happened to Atar before he signed the land over.

If something happened. It could. I could make it happen.

I stop walking.

If Amla and I are no longer entangled-friends, what happens if I become entangled-friends with Mar, instead? Is that even possible?

I don't know.

I hear Mar chopping wood not far away. Such strong arms.

I could tell the council what happened. They would make Atar step down for betraying Mar.

The ground is disintegrating under my shoes.

The sound of the crow dissolves.

The feeling in my toes is gone, numbness creeping up my feet. My feet are mud.

I'm glad that over all these years, I've kept fit enough to run.

It's time to run.

It's time.