The sand between my toes was anchoring me to the edge of the beach. Saminda lay five more days west as we made our way from Arinthe.
The moon rested high in the sky.
I breathed in deeply and grabbed the sun pendant at my neck. The smell of the sea lingered around me.
“Giovanna?” Carlosa’s voice filled the salty air.
I let out a breath and turned toward her. “Don’t you just love the moon?” I asked her.
She sat at the ocean's edge and looked out into the sea.
I sat next to her, the sand warm beneath me. I let myself sink into it. The sand always comforted me.
Carlosa and I sat in silence. The waves crashed against the shoreline. Her shadow played in the seafoam.
I dug my hands into the sand and looked out over the ocean. The moon hung high in the sky like it always did. Never changing from the waning crescent it always is at night.
“When I was trapped in my tower, the moon and the dark were the only things that greeted me.” Her voice was softer than I had ever heard it. “I used to sit under the little window I had and stare up at the moon. I’d make up stories that the moon was my mother, that she created the darkness to protect me.” She cleared her throat. “I probably sound crazy.”
“No, you don’t. The moon as your mother would make sense. The dark is where you find comfort. It’s where you find your power.” Water moved around my feet, and a slight glow framed Carlosa’s face as her violet eyes stared into the distance.
“I never wanted power; I just wanted to keep the dark for myself.” Carlosa’s voice was stronger than before.
“What if you are meant to share the darkness, like how the night is meant to bring us rest?” My voice was steady.
“The prophecy said-” She started.
“The prophecy isn’t whole.” I interrupted. “But we will find the rest of it. Then you will see what I do.”
“That prophecy is all I have that defines me. Don’t you understand that?” Carlosa’s voice was hard.
“I understand that you believe it defines you. Because you were taught that’s all there is, but it’s not true. You can’t define yourself based on others’ fears of the unknown.” I kept my voice even.
Silence tightened the air around us.
“I don’t know how to define myself. I don’t know if I am ready to define myself, but I do know I don’t want to be in the ocean the whole way to Saminda.” Her words crashed over me.
“The ocean won’t hurt you.” My voice was soft.
“I will walk along the ocean's edge and meet you on shore, but I am not meant to be in the water like you are.” Her voice was steady, certain.
“I understand.” I reached out and took her hand. An invisible bond pulled us together. Under the moon and the stars, silence hung in the air, while her shadow played among the sea foam.