composure. My hands shook as thoughts raced through my mind. The letters had revealed more than months with Aberto ever had. Looking at him caused memories to stir, distant moments long passed. I needed to focus. Kennan’s words rang in my mind along with Aberto’s response.
“Love and sacrifice,” I said, slowly turning to face him once more. “What does it mean?”
“Uriel sent Molly into the dreaming with a message on how to restore you. Love and sacrifice.”
“What does it mean?”
“You must know this now?” Frustration radiated from Aberto.
“No more secrets, Aberto. You want me to have faith in you, this is where we start. Tell me.” My eyes held his, unwavering.
“Finish what you were doing, and we will go outside and discuss the meaning of love and sacrifice.” Aberto looked around the room, his eyes resting on the desk for a moment, before his gaze returned to mine. “This building is much smaller with two bodies occupying its space.” He opened the door, leaving me to my forgotten coffee production.
I poured the contents into a stained mug I pilfered from the cabinet before heading out the door to meet him. No milk or sugar, but at least the coffee was something. My feet crossed the threshold and landed me on what might be considered a porch. Not by southern standards, to be sure, but there was enough space for two small metal chairs and a table. All of which were covered in rust and grime.
My eyes looked out over the landscape as I lowered myself into the vacant chair across from Aberto. Last night, I’d only noticed the stars. Looking out now, I took in the never ending expanse of what must be a dessert. No trees lined the landscape, only small brush and cacti struggled for life in the truly barren place. Off in the far distance, red bluffs loomed, jagged edges jutting out of the flat horizon. I couldn’t discern anyone; no matter the direction my eyes led me.
Running alongside the cabin was a stream, barely a trickle, but the deep ravine was enough to tell me that when rain came, it would fill to the brim. Vultures circled off in the distant sky, but nothing else moved, no sounds could be heard save for the slow running water.
Aberto’s gaze fell heavy on me, pulling my attention back to our conversation.
“Love and sacrifice, tell me.” I sipped the coffee, almost spitting the bitterness back out. Instead I let the warmth run through me, allowing it to ignite the cold places inside.
“What I am about to tell you, I know it will not change things between us. Know that I am not asking anything of you. I only wish to tell you what you seek.” Aberto looked at the ground beneath his feet, his jaw clenching and unclenching in frustration.
“Stop stalling.” I hated when he did that. Classic Aberto diversion tactics.
“Let me begin before the fall.” Aberto rested his elbows on his knees and stared out at the horizon as he continued. “Kennan knew the darkness would take him. He knew he would die. When we discussed it, he made me swear I would never leave your side. That I would take his place to protect you, to care for you so you wouldn’t be alone.”
He wants to fill Kennan ’ s place. He is only here to be with you.
“Aberto,” I started, but couldn’t finish. His eyes cut me short.
“I told you, I am not asking anything of you. What you lost is irreplaceable. I do not seek to fill the space where Kennan resides within your heart. I am only trying to explain. Please allow me to finish.” Aberto waited for my consent before turning his gaze away once more. “In the dreaming, when I told him, I believe he understood what must happen. If Kennan had remained in the void with you, you would never leave. He sacrificed his connection with you so that you may live. Before he died, he wanted me to promise him I would ensure you did just that. His words to me, he begged me, knowing how I felt for you, I can’t explain this properly.”
“Can you show
“Love and sacrifice,” I said, slowly turning to face him once more. “What does it mean?”
“Uriel sent Molly into the dreaming with a message on how to restore you. Love and sacrifice.”
“What does it mean?”
“You must know this now?” Frustration radiated from Aberto.
“No more secrets, Aberto. You want me to have faith in you, this is where we start. Tell me.” My eyes held his, unwavering.
“Finish what you were doing, and we will go outside and discuss the meaning of love and sacrifice.” Aberto looked around the room, his eyes resting on the desk for a moment, before his gaze returned to mine. “This building is much smaller with two bodies occupying its space.” He opened the door, leaving me to my forgotten coffee production.
I poured the contents into a stained mug I pilfered from the cabinet before heading out the door to meet him. No milk or sugar, but at least the coffee was something. My feet crossed the threshold and landed me on what might be considered a porch. Not by southern standards, to be sure, but there was enough space for two small metal chairs and a table. All of which were covered in rust and grime.
My eyes looked out over the landscape as I lowered myself into the vacant chair across from Aberto. Last night, I’d only noticed the stars. Looking out now, I took in the never ending expanse of what must be a dessert. No trees lined the landscape, only small brush and cacti struggled for life in the truly barren place. Off in the far distance, red bluffs loomed, jagged edges jutting out of the flat horizon. I couldn’t discern anyone; no matter the direction my eyes led me.
Running alongside the cabin was a stream, barely a trickle, but the deep ravine was enough to tell me that when rain came, it would fill to the brim. Vultures circled off in the distant sky, but nothing else moved, no sounds could be heard save for the slow running water.
Aberto’s gaze fell heavy on me, pulling my attention back to our conversation.
“Love and sacrifice, tell me.” I sipped the coffee, almost spitting the bitterness back out. Instead I let the warmth run through me, allowing it to ignite the cold places inside.
“What I am about to tell you, I know it will not change things between us. Know that I am not asking anything of you. I only wish to tell you what you seek.” Aberto looked at the ground beneath his feet, his jaw clenching and unclenching in frustration.
“Stop stalling.” I hated when he did that. Classic Aberto diversion tactics.
“Let me begin before the fall.” Aberto rested his elbows on his knees and stared out at the horizon as he continued. “Kennan knew the darkness would take him. He knew he would die. When we discussed it, he made me swear I would never leave your side. That I would take his place to protect you, to care for you so you wouldn’t be alone.”
He wants to fill Kennan ’ s place. He is only here to be with you.
“Aberto,” I started, but couldn’t finish. His eyes cut me short.
“I told you, I am not asking anything of you. What you lost is irreplaceable. I do not seek to fill the space where Kennan resides within your heart. I am only trying to explain. Please allow me to finish.” Aberto waited for my consent before turning his gaze away once more. “In the dreaming, when I told him, I believe he understood what must happen. If Kennan had remained in the void with you, you would never leave. He sacrificed his connection with you so that you may live. Before he died, he wanted me to promise him I would ensure you did just that. His words to me, he begged me, knowing how I felt for you, I can’t explain this properly.”
“Can you show
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