I got up to hug her and was just as thankful for the comfort as she was.
“We have work to do, people. Let’s get Maelis home.”
* * *
Maelis
When I awoke from my now dreamless sleep, I wondered ifI had truly seen Veridus. But as I came to, I felt the little note folded between my fingers and excitement ran through my body like an electric shock. With shaking fingers, I slowly opened the letter, already crying when I recognized Theo’s strong handwriting.
“My dearest Mae,
I hardly know where to begin. The thought that this letter might actually reach you… it leaves me undone. My mind stumbles over words, and nothing I write feels enough. I miss you. So deeply that it aches. There isn’t an hour that passes without your smile lighting up my thoughts. Lately, I keep thinking of that tale, the one about the sailor and the starfish. How he left it behind when he returned to his old life. And when he turned back, the island, and the starfish, were gone. I fear I’ve done the same. I let doubt cloud my heart. I let myself believe you had betrayed me. And in that moment, perhaps I left you behind, on that island of ours, built from trust and quiet moments and things we never dared to say aloud.
But I see now that I cannot go back to the life I knew before you. There’s no version of this world in which you are not part of it. If you’ve vanished into the sea, then I will swim until I find you again. I still feel you, even now. Somewhere, out there. And I will keep reaching for you, across every tide, through every storm, until you’re beside me once more.
I’ve lived a hundred lifetimes of logic. You’re the first irrational thought I’ve ever wanted to keep.
To the moments we feel lost, and the ones where we’re found. May we always find our way back home. Sela ti’oré ana.
Yours always, Theo.”
I was full on crying again now, re-reading his letter over and over again. He loved me. And although I was still stuck in this place with no idea of how I was going to get out, I felt hopeful for the first time in eons.
* * *
Theo
The days dragged on and we didn’t make any significant progress. It wasn’t for lack of trying; everyone had been spending hours upon hours in the library or talking to people who might have an idea of how to help. Word had spread about our efforts to bring Maelis back and a string of Gods and other creatures came to the temple to offer their services.
Maelis had saved us all and the people felt like they owed her their thanks. We had many leads, but nothing substantial. After another long day of turning pages and taking notes, I plopped onto one of the sofas next to Lydia. She placed her hand on my thigh and gave me an encouraging squeeze.
“We will find a way, Theo.” I leaned my head back and stared at the ceiling. It drove me mad to have all this knowledge at my fingertips, but not being any closer to finding a loophole in this whole damned mess.
“She must be so lonely,” I murmured, the words barely more than a breath. “She must’ve thought I forgot her.”
Lydia shook her head firmly. “You tried everything. If anyone should feel guilty, it’s us. We thought you’d gone mad.”
I let out a soft chuckle, hollow at the edges. “To be fair, I think Ididgo a little mad.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I guess what scares me most is the thought that maybe… she hates me for not saving her. For a while, I actually believed she was staying away on purpose. That she didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.”
Lydia stood, pulling her coat from the back of a chair and wrapping it around her shoulders.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, not unkindly. “It’s the Fates keeping her away, not her will. She loves you. Never doubt that. If Maelis had any choice in the matter, she’d already be here.”
She paused at the door and looked back at me. “I’m going to retire for the night. But I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Try and get some sleep, my boy.”
I murmured a goodnight, watching her leave before turning back to my book.
But I couldn’t focus.
My eyes skimmed the same line over and over, the words blurring.
If she had any choice in the matter, she would be back.
Lydia’s voice echoed in my mind, over and over again.
And then, something clicked.
