The Truth of Yesterday (86 page)

     “Killian, are you ok?” Micah called again. When I didn't answer, he began to scramble through the opening, which while plenty large enough for me, was almost too small for him.

     I turned my head slowly to one side and found myself staring into the empty eye sockets of
Amalie's
skull. One bony arm was stretched out in my direction, almost as if she was reaching for me. I reached out a hand and rested it gingerly on hers.

     “I'm so sorry,” I whispered.     

* * *

     A couple weeks later, I stood next to
Amalie's
grave watching my breath puff out into the cold air. The small funeral we'd held as she'd been properly buried had been over for some time now, but I couldn't bring myself to go inside just yet. My visions, my out of body experience, whatever you want to call them, had affected me deeply. I'd been quiet and withdrawn ever since it had happened, leaving my family quite concerned. Experiencing the horribly traumatic events of
Amalie's
last night had left me very troubled.

     I looked over at the angel statue. It was somewhat comforting to think the angel was here to watch over
Amalie
at last. I thought it ironic that it was
Amalie
herself who'd had it placed here, in memory of the Captain who she had thought lost at sea. I'd always thought the statue looked so sad with her eyes shut as if in silent prayer. It felt very appropriate at this moment.

     “You're going to have to let it go, you know,” a voice said from behind me, causing me to jump. I turned to find Judy leaning against a tree watching me with a concerned expression.

     “It's not so easy,” I said softly.

     “No, I don't imagine it is.” She walked slowly to my side. “It's the past, Killian. It all happened well over a hundred years ago. There's nothing that can be done to change it now. We've done what we could, and I have to believe it's what
Amalie
wanted, that she can rest in peace at last.”

     “I know in my head that it all happened a long time ago, but feeling it, living it the way I did...it's hard to convince my heart that it's ancient history. It hurts just as much as if I'd lost a close friend...again.”

     She took my hand. “I'm sorry, dear heart. I know so little about this sort of Gift. I wish I could have prepared you better for what happened. I had no idea it would be such a powerful experience. We need to get you trained as quickly as possible. I've talked to
Dashel
; he'll be coming back in a few weeks.”

     
“Dash?”

     “This is closer to his Gift than mine and he's been learning from a shaman. He'll be able to do more for you than I ever could.”

     “What if I don't want to do anything like that again?”

     She shrugged. “Then you still need to understand your Gift so you can control it instead of it controlling you. If you'd been a little better trained, maybe it wouldn't have taken over you so completely.” She looked into my eyes. “You have a powerful Gift, Killian. We're still learning just how powerful. It's not something you want to leave unchecked.”

     I nodded. I knew she was right.

     Judy slipped her arm around my waist. “Come on. Let's go inside with everyone else.”

     “I'll be there in a minute,” I said.

     “Okay, but don't stay too long.” She kissed me softly on the cheek and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.

     I stood for another minute and then turned to leave. I'd only taken a few steps before I felt a presence behind me. I turned slowly around to find
Amalie
standing in the shade of the trees. I felt the hair stand up on my arms but I wasn't afraid.
Amalie
was an old friend now. She smiled at me, the first time I'd ever seen her smile. She raised her hand and then slowly faded from my view. A sense of peace flowed through me and I knew everything was ok.

     “Rest well,
Amalie
,” I whispered and then I returned to the house and to the living, leaving the dead and the past behind me, where they belonged.