Page 68 of Uprooted

Elowen

I look out over Bihar from the roof of our building. The city is gold and shining as the suns dip down towards the horizon. I come up here almost every day to watch the sunset. Part of me still can’t believe this is my life. If this is a dream, I never want to wake up.

Something brushes up against my ankles while I watch the sky, drawing my attention to my feet. A small yellow blossom creeps its way across the rooftop garden in search of its new home. I kneel down on the soft ground and watch it roll and sway, taking a meandering path away from me.

A shadow appears from behind and Aro sinks down onto his knees next to me. The sight of him still makes my heart beat faster.

“How did it go?” I ask. He spent the day with his father and the remaining group of loyal advisors. One of many meetings that will change the course of history for our home.

“More of the same. We’re working on a long-term settlement plan,” he says and sits more comfortably on the ground next to me.

“When does Bri get back?” I ask. I’ve been missing her these last few weeks. And it’s been surprisingly hard to get a hold of her.

“Tai’s working on it.”

“Look at us—you making plans for the future, and me just sitting up here living in the moment. Who’d have thought? ”

He pulls me onto his lap, my favorite place to be in the universe. I lean back onto his chest and watch the yellow flower find its spot. It nestles into the soil and then slowly unfurls its roots and beds down.

“Ah, look, she found a place to put roots down,” Aro says.

“She did.”

The End.