Chapter 13: YARON

I sensed something had changed the moment I saw her.

Her eyes were shining. She bit her lip harder and harder with each second. Something was happening. Something important. Something that kept Vee in a state that I had only seen when she was truly excited.

“What’s wrong, Vee? You’re scaring me.”

Her eyes became cloudy.

“I love you. That’s what happens.”

She smiled and hugged me tightly. I inhaled the smell of her hair. I ignored the warnings that whispered in my head that something was changing. I covered up the sound of the fucking ticking.

“I love you, Yaron. I love you. Do you feel it?”

Something was wrong.

“Vee...”

“Tomorrow is my birthday.”

I nodded. I swallowed. The knot was lodged in me.

Fear settled between us.

“Don’t say it, Vee...”

She closed her eyes. She pressed her forehead against mine.

“I’m turning eighteen.”

“Don’t pressure me, I won’t give you your present until tomorrow.”

She laughed. And then, she cried. Vee, the one who never cried, the strongest girl I’d ever met, collapsed.

I knew it. I felt it in every pore of my skin. I pressed her against me.

She was getting ready to leave. She was still in my arms and a part of her had already flown away.

“How long?”

“Not yet. It’s still early. I don’t even have money for a plane ticket. I don’t even know if I could ever afford it. I may never make it.”

I kissed her to shut her up, but that didn’t stop me from hearing the first flutters of a farewell in my head.

“I had a dream last night,” she said, in a whisper.

“Okay, what was the dream about?”

“I dreamed about a beautiful pitch black raven. I was wandering through a vast, misty forest, feeling lost and unsure of where to go. Then, the raven appeared and began circling above me. Though the forest was dark and ominous, the raven’s presence gave me a sense of calm and confidence. I followed the bird until I saw a clear path in front of me and a bright light shone over me.”

“Interesting. What do you think it means?”

“I have no idea, but it felt strangely real to me.”