Whispers of Lavender

wet earth and lavender hung on the air as Lila wrapped herself in her grandmother's armchair, a woolen throw around her ankles a

er grandmother's words pen

rser, but his heart remains soft. He does not mention her, not aloud, but he move

ournal, her thr

sence of her presence cried through this pla

to little puddles. A light burned in the distance, Elias's house, just around the bend

he had to l

her coat and boots, took an umbre

ashed on her ankles as she walked. Lightning flashed once, in the distance out over the

oor. She stood there for a moment, drenched in memory,

eps. A

oor o

r, his hair damp as if he'd just run a towel through i

wed. "What are you doing

confessed, gasping. "And

side hastily

behind her. The house was cozy, warm with the scent of cedarwood and something bakin

e umbrella from her and hanging it

s all his, simple, utilitarian, but unmistakably thoughtful. A bookcase filled with dusty old book

h a towel and gave

quietly, drying h

ing to put on another log. "

"There's so much I don't understand. Abo

r right away. "What

e me?" she a

t, he

firmly. "I coul

ou didn't try

across from her. "You had visions, Lila. Outside of Va

uld work out," she said. "But all I

ncrementall

tuated only by the rain an

ed, her voice trembling. "E

s knees. "There were days I swore I saw you in the fie

o the edges of her eyes

Letters I never sent. I d

gave my address

She never sho

breath. "She always

. "Not really. You just sh

the man he had grown into: not angry, not bit

why I'm here,"

replied. "That's w

icked gently, counting of

ng," she said, sta

g toward the door.

rain

e more

side by side. The rain had slowed, turning into the light drizzle that clung to skin and

at Elias, his face

in?" she breathed, the hiss of

aced

d to her. "I just don't

lied. "I just don't want

m and fields ahead of them, Lila felt somet

r ope

ce ret

unspoken but v