The Witch Queen's Legacy

Time to say goodbye

It had been a week since the accident that changed my life forever—a week of pain, tears, and hospital visits. But now, as I sat in the corner of the funeral home, surrounded by family and friends, I couldn't help but feel empty inside.

The sound of muted conversations drifted toward me from across the room. The smell of lilies mixed with tears lingered heavily in the air. My gaze fell upon their caskets draped in flowers at rest at the front of the room.

Noah stood beside me quietly, offering his silent support.

I could see the same anguish mirrored in his eyes; we were both lost without our anchors. Family and friends offered condolences, but their words seemed distant and hollow amidst this grief.

I longed for some sense of normalcy, some semblance of peace that would never come again. My parents were gone, and no amount of comforting words could change that fact.

Tears continued to stream down my face unchecked, a constant reminder of all that had been lost.

My paternal grandparents approached me then, their eyes filled with tears and pain. It had been over a year since I last saw them, but it felt like a lifetime. They wrapped me in a warm embrace, offering comfort and solace in their silent presence.

"Amara," my grandmother said softly. "We are so sorry for your loss.” Her voice was soft and barely above a whisper, while her eyes were swollen red, mirroring mine.

I tried to muster up some words of gratitude or acknowledgment, but nothing came out. My throat felt tight with emotion, and I could only nod in response.

As the service continued around me, I found myself lost in memories of happier times - picnics in the park with my parents, family vacations to exotic destinations, lazy Sunday mornings spent lounging around the house. But those memories were bittersweet now, tainted by the knowledge that they would never happen again.

Later that night, as I sat in my room, watching the sunset and feeling the weight of grief pressing down on me, a gentle knock at the door broke the silence.

"Come in," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Noah entered, his usually bright blue eyes dulled with sorrow. He spoke softly, "Elora and Ember are asleep now," as he sat beside me near the window.

With my hand in his, Noah offered silent comfort as we watched the sky turn orange to pink.

The room was melancholy as we sat together, lost in our thoughts. The fading light cast shadows across Noah's face, highlighting the lines of worry that had creased his brow since our parents' passing.

I turned to look at him, grateful for his presence but unable to find the words to express it. His gaze met mine, filled with understanding and compassion. "We will get through this together," he said quietly. "We are family."

His words resonated within me, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume me.

Despite our past differences and disagreements, Noah's unwavering support now means more to me than ever.

As we sat together, watching the last traces of daylight fade away, I felt a sense of unity and strength growing between us.

At that moment, I knew Noah would be by my side no matter the challenges ahead, guiding me through the storm with his quiet determination and unwavering loyalty.

And so we sat in silence, two siblings bound by loss but united in grief, finding solace in each other's company as we faced an uncertain future together.

"I miss them so much," I finally whispered, tears welling up in my eyes as memories of my mom and dad flooded my mind. The ache in my heart seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment, and the emptiness of their absence felt more palpable.

Noah squeezed my hand gently, his touch grounding me in reality. "I miss them too," he said quietly, his voice filled with empathy and understanding. Moments like these reminded me how lucky I was to have him by my side.

Moments later, Noah started fidgeting nervously opposite me, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for the right words.

I could sense his hesitation, his uncertainty about broaching such a delicate subject with me. But when he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.

"Grandmother and grandfather want you to move to Meadow Creek," he said tentatively, his eyes meeting mine tentatively. It felt like a bombshell had been dropped amid our quiet moment together, leaving me stunned and unsure how to respond.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself before speaking. "But why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I struggled to understand.

Noah hesitated for a moment before answering. "There's something you don't know about our family," he said cryptically, his expression serious and unreadable.

His words piqued my curiosity, and I wondered what hidden secrets lay beneath the surface of our seemingly ordinary lives. "What is it?" I asked, eager for answers but hesitant about what I might uncover.

"I can't tell you yet; I can in Meadow Creek," Noah replied enigmatically, confusing me even more. What did Meadow Creek have to do with any of this?

His words lingered between us, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me. The thought of leaving behind the familiarity of this house and starting anew somewhere else felt overwhelming and daunting.

"But I'll be starting college soon," I protested weakly, grasping at any shred of normalcy that remained within reach.

"You can go to Meadow Creek College," Noah suggested confidently, his belief in me unwavering despite my doubts and insecurities.

I shook my head stubbornly, unable to comprehend how everything seemed to lead back to Meadow Creek. "I'm not special like you, Noah; I'm just...me," I argued feebly, feeling small and insignificant compared to whatever grand destiny awaited me there.

"No, Amara," Noah interjected firmly, grasping my hands. "You are special in your way. You will get into Meadow Creek College—I promise."

"Fine," I said as I looked at Noah.

Two weeks later, it was already time to leave for Meadow Creek. As for Elora and Ember, they will be staying with our aunt, Julia. She was Mom's younger sister and had a daughter named Ruby, who was the same age as Elora and Ember.

As such, those three have always gotten along.

I turned to Noah, who stood beside me with a calm presence that always seemed to soothe my nerves. His soft blonde hair fell, framing his gentle blue eyes that mirrored mine.

"Are you sure about this?" Aunty asked, her voice filled with concern. I nodded slowly, knowing I had to go despite the guilt weighing on my shoulders. "I promised, after all."

With one last hug and whispered promise, I watched Aunty drive off. The sound of the car fading away left a sense of emptiness.

As we approached the airport, my heart was pounding. The anticipation of our trip to Meadow Creek filled me with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I hurriedly grabbed my suitcase from the car trunk, thankful I could finally be outside the car.

Noah and I walked through the bustling terminal, weaving past travelers lugging suitcases and children running around excitedly.

Once we were checked in and had passed through security, Noah settled into his seat on the plane next to me. He began recounting stories from school and his time spent with our grandparents. But as he spoke animatedly, I noticed a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"I can't wait for you to see Meadow Creek," Noah said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What do you mean? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Noah hesitated before replying, "You'll know that secret soon enough."

This revelation piqued my interest. "What kind of secret?" I asked eagerly. "It's better if you see it yourself," Noah replied cryptically.

As the plane took off and soared through the sky toward Meadow Creek, my mind buzzed with questions about what awaited us at our destination.