Secret Whispers (Heavenstone 2)

It took all my strength to defy her, but I did. I said nothing. Her whispers grew more and more frantic, and when we drove through the entrance to the cemetery, she was screaming. Uncle Perry looked at me a number of times. I saw how worried he was, but I held my breath.

Finally, I had to put my hands over my ears. He parked and quickly got out of the car to go around and open my door.

“Come on, Sam. You’ve got to.”

I let him guide me out and held on to his arm as we walked up the path until we reached Cassie’s grave. For a moment, the two of us stood there silently staring at the tombstone.

“Bury her again,” Uncle Perry said. “Go on, Sam. Do it.”

He let go of me. I stepped forward and then fell to my knees and spread my arms as I lowered myself to embrace the earth. The grass was cool against my cheek.

“Good-bye, Cassie,” I whispered. “I don’t hate you, but I don’t need you anymore.”

Her whispering stopped.

Uncle Perry helped me to my feet. I brushed off my clothes, and we started out.

Far off in the distance in the direction of Heaven-stone, the clouds began to part to reveal the bluest of blue sky.

And I felt like a child opening a gift and discovering she had been given herself.

Finally and forever.