Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 138274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Reaching up, she took the picture off its mount and held it to her heart. Funny, she couldn’t remember exactly when she’d put it up. But she was never going to forget taking it down—
“Hi.”
Nalla looked over her shoulder. In the doorway, Bitty was standing with her hands in the pockets of her parka, her sneakers pressed together tight and her shoulders tensed up. Her pink-highlighted hair was down and curling up at the ends, and with the windburn on her cheeks, she’d clearly just come from the outside world.
“Hi,” Nalla said. Then she held up her finger in a wait-a-minute. “I found one of your sweatshirts.”
She propped the photograph against the wall with the others, and went over to her bureau. The orange Syracuse hoodie she’d set aside was another thing that held a lot of memories.
“Here.” She brought it over. “I should have given it back a year ago, but you know, once it gets in a drawer…”
Bitty’s hands shook ever so slightly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Nalla stepped back and motioned around. “As you can see, I’m—”
“I’m really sorry. About what I said that night we fought. I didn’t mean it. I don’t know what was wrong with me—”
Nalla held her palm up. “Please. I was being ridiculous and defensive. You were right about everything, including the fact that those photographs…” She bent down and turned the sunrise/sunset back around so the image showed. “These pictures are of places I will never go.”
“But they’re also windows into the world up above and you love them. I had no right to attack what you like to look at.”
“Well, at the time?” She smiled. “I was tearing down your guru for no good reason. Fair’s fair.”
“She’s not my guru, I swear. I just…” Bitty’s eyes lingered on the building-block boxes. “I’d like to move on with my life someday, too. I’m really happy for you and Nate.”
“Thanks, Bitty. That means a lot.”
“I also came here to thank you.”
Nalla frowned. “For what?”
“L.W. told me what you did that night I went to Bathe. With those guys.”
“Assholes, I’m telling you.”
“And totally not my type, as it turns out. But thanks for watching out for me.”
“I always have your back. That’s what true friends are for.”
There was a long pause. And then Nalla blurted, “I miss you—”
“I really miss you—”
They both laughed, and the hugging was as natural as their friendship had always been, something that just happened. When they stepped back, there were sniffles, there were tears—and underneath the emotion, there was the sense that the world was back on track, that which had been out of sync now fully realigned.
Funny, how a person could be your sister even if you two weren’t related—
“Are you guys ready?” As Bella appeared in the doorway, her smile was easy, and she leaned against the jamb and shook her head. “Wow. This is the end of an era. And the start of a new one.”
“I’m just a phone call away.” Nalla’s throat grew tight again. “And I will always answer.”
The special smile that was sent her way was marked with watery eyes. “The same is true for us. Now come on, you don’t want to be late to your own farewell party, right?” Abruptly, things got serious. “Fritz has been cooking all day long, and if we don’t start eating soon, we’re going to be up to our elbows in leftovers. Although… I guess that’s not the worst thing that could happen.”
Nalla laughed and looked at Bitty. “You’re coming, right?”
The female grinned, her eyes crinkling at both corners. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
They laughed and started to talk fast again—but then Nalla glanced at her mahmen. Bella had stepped into the empty room and was making a slow turn.
Bitty lowered her voice. “I’ll meet you there, okay?”
“Yes, thanks.”
After the female left, Nalla walked forward and took her mahmen’s hand. “Don’t be sad. I really am only a phone call away, and Nate and I have family Last Meal on the calendar, every Sunday. We’ll see you all the time.”
Bella turned and smiled, even though her eyes were tearing up. “Oh, I’m not sad. This has all worked out better than I could have imagined. Right?”
“Well, Father no longer wants to murder the male I love,” Nalla said with a dry grin. “So yes, I have to agree.”
After they laughed, her mahmen reached up to touch her cheek. “If I’m somber, it’s because an era of my life has to end… in order for the rest of yours to begin. And it’s really wonderful because that’s how it’s supposed to work. Young move along and they move out and they make their own way, and if you’re lucky—and oh, sweetheart, we’re so lucky, we really are—when that time comes, they take you with them. Here.” Bella touched Nalla’s head. “And here.” She touched Nalla’s sternum. “It’s the immortality we get with the love, the family, and the traditions we pass on to the next generation.”