Willow: Descend
The crane in front of me suddenly utters a familiar voice. “Willow, my child.”
“Grandma?” I leave the circle up. I don’t know if the ritual is over or if this bird is trying to fool me. “Is that you?”
“Willow, my child! Please listen to me!”
“Grandmother, I will listen to anything you say! Everything is going to be fine, we’ll be together at last! One big, happy family!”
“Willow, just listen, please!” The crane starts mimicking Grandma Orchid’s physical stature and physical habits, like holding her hands together. I need to listen to her. “Willow…”
“Willow, I’m so thankful that you want me to stay with you, and that you would go so far as to travel and help me! It shows how much you care about me, and I’m glad I mean so much to everyone. But there’s something you need to know, Willow. Sweetie, I’m dead.”
I begin to tear up, “But I can bring you back! I’m doing that right now!”
“Willow, listen to me. I lived a long and fruitful life. I got to meet a lot of kind people, and I have a lot of kind grandchildren. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.”
At this point I realize just how selfish I have been acting. Grandma Orchid really did make the best of life. I could even go as far as to say she lived a life with no regrets. And her life was over. “Grandma, I’m sorry…”
“I know it’s hard to carry on without the people you hold dear, especially when you know you can never see them again. But this is something everybody has to do, my dear.”
“Grandma, I use elemental magic.” I have to interrupt before I forget. “I’ve been wanting to tell you that, but I never had the chance until now.”
“You’re so talented, my child.” She continues. “Just remember: When you think about me, you can laugh, you can cry, whatever you need to do. You can feel sad about those who died, but you can also laugh and smile when you think about the things you loved to do with them. When someone leaves you, you don’t really stop feeling those emotions, so please don’t feel like you need to get over them.”
I’m having a hard time keeping it together. The crane wraps their arms around me. It feels like Grandma. They whispers in my ear, “I’ll always be with you, my dear. I love you.”
“I love you, too, grandma,” I barely have the strength left to speak with the tears coming out of my face.
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye…!” I end the ritual and fall to the ground, sobbing in a fetal position. There is just so much to process.
“Willow…” Maple is trying to talk to me. Her voice is gentle and apologetic, but I can’t really tell what she’s saying. I don’t want to face her like this.
“Maple can…” I try to catch my breath, “Can we please just… just go home? Please?”
Maple helps me up, and Lily stands by my side. Again, I can’t tell what they’re saying at this point. Grandma wants to rest, and I need to respect that. But I don’t know how I can keep holding on when she’s not even here anymore.