“I love you so much, mate.You’ve given me the most beautiful love, and we will give it to her.”
“I love you all,” she whispered just before she felt exhaustion take over and her darkness consume her.
Chapter 39
Shawn’s Mother
“It’s time,”she told Herb.
“You’re sure?”he asked, standing up and hustling around to prepare.
“It is.We must hurry if we want to try this,” she told him.
Herb helped her from her bed.She was weak and frail, but somehow she felt stronger now than she had in years.This was her destiny.
“Take me to them,” she told Herb, her hand firmly on his arm for support.
They walked as fast as she could stand, which wasn’t fast.Climbing the stairs was even worse, but as the scent of death greeted them, she pushed herself.They didn’t bother to knock when they got to the door but simply walked in.
Everyone’s red tear-stained eyes looked at them with shock.Shawn stood and started to speak, but she held her hand up to him to stop him.
“I am so proud to be your mother.I love you more than this world, and the same goes for El.Even more, I love that baby girl.You give her a good life, both of them.”
“Mother?”Shawn asked, confused.
She brought him down and kissed his forehead.Herb helped her over to El, and she kissed El’s forehead too.Lastly, she went to her granddaughter, who was safely snuggled in one of her father’s arms.Trip had tears running down his cheeks.
“Don’t cry, my son.In our greatest times of need, the Mother always offers us a solution.Have faith.”
She leaned down and kissed her granddaughter’s precious forehead and then looked to Herb.
“I’m ready,” she told him.
“What’s happening, Mother?”Shawn asked.
“The prophecy has called for the death of amothertoday so that her prophecy could be born.I am a mother,” and then she closed her eyes, and Herb began to chant.
Shawn’s desperate voice faded away, and a bright light greeted her, and she went to it without fear.
“My child, this does not need to be your fate,” the Mother spoke.
“Oh, but it does.Please, Mother, if you grant me nothing else please allow me to take her place.She is my child, they all are, and I can’t think of a greater gift to them, than more time.”
“I will have you ask her yourself,” the Mother said, and then suddenly El appeared.
“What are you doing here?”El gasped running towards her and embracing her.
“I’m taking your place.”
“No.No.You can’t do this.I can’t allow you to give your life for mine?”
“There is no question about it.I have lived my life, and thanks to you, I saw my son mate and fall in love and bear a child.Now, you must go and help raise that child.”
“Oh, mom, I love you so much.How can we do this without you?”
“I’ll be there in everything you do.I’m not your only mother, though.Your mom and Ryan’s will be there.I know things are tough, and the past is ugly, but you’re not going that way, so don’t look back there.Focus on the future.Build the life you always dreamed of.”
El wrapped her up in a hug.They hugged for what felt like forever, and then a flash of light hit, and soon she was watching El descend back down to her family.A feeling of love and relief filled her.She had no way of knowing if her and Herbs plan would work.They had studied and meditated for months in hopes that it would.
