“Here you have, sweetheart.” Ector says and hands me a sapphire blue book “Beneath The Flower Shop”
“What’s this?”
“A book.”
“Well, of course. But why..”
“I don’t know, I felt drawn to it. I think you should read it.”
“Oh... Okay.” I’m going to fold, I don’t stand a chance to act like nothing when my heart is fluttering like a garden full of butterflies.
Holding on to the book, I continue going through the bookshop, ending up not finding anything else that is interesting enough.
“I’m only getting this book, I don’t feel the need to get anything else.” I say out loud, not receiving an answer.
“Ector?”
As my body spins around, I find him on his knees on the light wooden floor, petting a gray cat with small glittery daffodil wings. Adorable. Not only the cat, but the fact that Ector seems obsessed with it.
“Aww, she’s the cutest cat I’ve ever seen.”
“I think her name is Alora.” Ector says while reading the carved letters on the golden plate that’s hanging from her light yellow necklace.
“Should we pay and continue our journey? We still have somewhere to be, remember?”
“No,weare not going to pay. I’m paying.” Ector answers.
”I appreciate that, truly, but you can’t pay everything for me.”
“Yes I can, let’s get it over with so we can get to the well.”
He paid for the book and I put it in my bag. It’s starting to get a little heavier, but nothing I can’t handle.
“Do you still have the map?” He asks.
“Ector,youare supposed to have the map! Are you kidding me?!”
“Yes, sweetheart. I have it in my pocket.” He laughs at the way I instantly panicked.
“That’s not funny. I need it to get my sister back.”
I understand that he wants to joke with me, but that wasn’t funny at all. That’s the only map, the one and only way for me to see Esme again.
“Is there anything we need before we leave?” I ask him, just to make sure.
“Maybe we should buy some more food? Or some fruit?”
“Can’t we get that in another city? Can I see the map?”
He picks up the map from the pocket in his baggy, black pants and unfolds it for me.
“Oh goddess, Ector.”
“What? What did I do now?” He lets out in deep confusion.
“Nothing, it’s just... This won’t take one or two days. This will take much longer than I thought. Especially since we have to walk. Can’t we just fly?”
His eyes darken. “No, remember our deal.” His jaw tightens.
