Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“Hi sweetheart.”
“Hi Daddy! Guess what we’re about to see?” I said, staring out of the reception window as we waited for the bus to arrive. The night sky and I were filled with heady anticipation.
“What?” he replied.
“The northern lights.”
“Savannah …” Mama murmured, soft and gentle. “You’ve always dreamed of seeing them. How special for you that that dream is coming true,” she said, and I smiled.
“I can’t believe it,” I said, unsure how to express the level of excitement bursting within me. Then I saw the headlights of the bus approach the hotel. “The bus is coming to take us to a viewing point, but I just wanted to check in with you both and to let you know I’m okay.”
“Thank you, baby. You sound so strong.” My heart fluttered at that. “And we miss you so much,” Mama said and melted me. “Oh, try to call your sister soon. You know she can’t go a day without hearing from you, and she’ll be spittin’ mad that she missed your call again.” My heart bloomed at that. It was true. I had texted Ida nonstop since being here. I called my parents most days too, but catching Ida between our activities, her school, and her cheer practices to talk on the phone was a little tricky.
“I will,” I said. I glanced at the others in the lobby. Cael held out his hand, signaling to me that it was time to go. “I’ll speak to y’all tomorrow. Love y’all!”
“Love you too!” they shouted back in unison, and I hung up, feeling lighter. As I walked up to Cael, he wrapped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me to his side. We were caring less and less if the others saw us this way.
I’d also noticed that Cael never called home. Leo had told him this morning he’d spoken to his parents again to let them know he was okay. That seemed to be the case most days. Cael acknowledged Leo with a tight jerk of his chin. I hadn’t broached the subject of his parents with him. He was making such good progress, but it was clear he was still in the emotional trenches, and I didn’t want to pry too hard as to why. He was less angry. He was joking and smiling more these days. That was incredible to witness. I feared pushing him too hard about his parents would only see him retreat. And like Mia and Leo had said, I needed to let him explore his journey through grief himself. Even though I just wanted to make him better.
We climbed into the bus. Chills raced up and down my spine with excitement. This was a bucket list item for me. Poppy came to my mind as I thought that, but rather than letting the image disable me, I pictured how excited her face was and how pleased for me she would be. We’d often dreamed of seeing this together—her, me, and Ida. Rune’s text came to mind like a warm blanket being cast around me.
She’s with you …
I wanted to believe it.
Although the Aurora Borealis could be seen from Tromsø, to get the full effect we were taking a bus out of the city, away from its lights and to a place of solitude where we could see the most activity.
Cael smiled at me when I glanced out of the window, the city fading to the background and the heavily packed snow around us our only view. He placed a hand on my knee. Butterflies filled my chest, then swooped down to my stomach. It was a sensation I was becoming more than familiar with. Every day, when Cael was close, they awoke.
I let myself take a glance at his lips. Lips that had so very nearly kissed mine. I could still feel the heat of his warm, minty breath on my cold skin. Still feel how soft his lips were as they lightly brushed against mine.
I felt like everything between was going at hyperspeed, like we were in a vacuum where we felt and experienced more than we ever would back home. Our emotions were high and we were grasping onto moments that lifted us and made us feel seen.
I felt more than seen by Cael than I had by anyone before. Being as introverted as I was, it was almost impossible for me to let people in. But he’d gently knocked on the door to my heart, and carefully stepped inside. He hadn’t barged in, hadn’t slammed it open. But softly, carefully, asked to be let in.
And I liked him being there. But it terrified me too.
Cael took hold of my hand and leaned against the bus seat’s headrest, oblivious to my affectionate thoughts about him. He closed his eyes, and it gave me license to really study him, unobserved. He was so much more than I’d given him credit for at the beginning of the trip. I’d seen his tattoos and gauges, his stormy eyes and clenched jaw, his cutting outbursts, and assumed he was cold and brash. Someone who didn’t want the company of others.