Part One - The Reveal
Chapter 7
A man may be composed on the outside, but on the inside, thoughts run amok.
“Said what, Maia?” asked Tim.
“I-I…” thinking fast Maia continued, “Who said….they're hungry because I am!” and she turned around and made her way to their little kitchen. She took the coarse brown bag of flour, and emptied its contents into a bowl. There was less than a cup left.
Maia’s hands continued working while her mind was miles away. Her thoughts chased each other in circles, never leaving enough times to draw conclusions. The voice was like a caress. A soft voice. Like Water falling on hands. But no one else heard it. Could the night of stress, anxiety and sleep be catching up to her.
Yes. That must be it. As soon as she ate breakfast she would sleep. Deep down, she wasn't convinced, but Maia had experience with pushing thoughts aside. So she did.
Tim and Anna came to eat some of the pancakes she had prepared. And then, with a stomach slightly more full than it was when she began eating, Maia drifted off to her bed. Anna put her raggedy cloak down on the floor, and Tim went to his straw pallet. Just as her eyes were about to close, Anna muttered,
“Darling….I need to bring you to Darling….tomorrow…”
***
The sun was setting when Maia awoke. Anna’s frail body was still asleep, but Tim was up and preparing dinner. Maia sat up and stretched.
“ ‘Evening Tim…” she mumbled. Tim’s eyes were wide and alert. Maia wondered how long he had been up for. Maia stumbled out of bed and came next to Tim. “So, what do you think about-” here Maia waved around a hand, “all of this.”
Tim looked her in the eye, his eyebrows knit together,
“Honestly… I think I’m ready to believe and follow Anna when she brings us to our Aunt Darling. I'm ready to put behind our past of misery and learn about these Elements. And find Father. And have a family again. Im ready and willing. How about you.”
Maia nodded, “ I feel the same as you. I am ready to become the person I was before Father left. To start again…” She picked up a knife and began cutting up apples, and tried to ignore Anna’s raspy breathing.
***
Around an hour later Anna awoke. She stood up and came to join them at the table.
“I am bringing you to Darling. She lives quite a ways away from here. And neither you nor I have the means of travel. BUT! I am a Master. I can create travel for us. Tomorrow, early morning we leave. But now, we must bury your Mother's body-”
“Under the big apple tree!” interjected Tim, his voice breaking. Maia nodded. Her Mother loved that apple tree. Mary and Benjamin had planted it when they first moved to the farm, and it grew surprisingly fast. Now Maia knew that it was from her Father’s ability of Earth and her Mother’s ability of Water combined.
They finished eating and trudged outside. Anna followed behind them. Anna carried Mary’s body in her arms. Anna moved the dirt with her powers, and made it into a clean square. She lowered Mary into it.
“Wait!” ripped out of Maia’s mouth. She lifted her skirts and ran toward her Mother's covered form. She bent down and kissed Mary’s cheek. Tears poured down her eyes. “Goodbye Mama. I love you. I will never forget you.” she whispered.
She was still broken, still angry, and still hurt. But a few of the edgier parts of her left. They made her all she was before but wiser, stronger, and braver. She was new, yet old. Broken, yet healed.
She was Maia.
End Part One- The Reveal