“The cold brings it all: fights, sadness, and difficulties. Almost like it chills the heart. What a chilled heart needs is some nice warm food. It’s funny; a warm meal can mellow you out, help strike up a conversation, and before you know it, even do away with ill will.”
“Do away with ill will, you say…”
Being together with Grandma Flaire gave me that feeling. She was such a warm person that it made me feel warm on the inside as well.
I wish she could always be here, forever.
With this on my mind, I enjoyed the stew she’d prepared for me.
I sidled into Grandma Flaire’s bed together with her. I’d told her I was all right taking the couch, but she insisted that sleeping in the same bed would keep us nice and toasty. Carbuncle even helped himself to some space on our sheets, which served to crowd the bed even more.
I don’t want to hear any fuss if we end up smooshing you.
White-Owl perched on the windowsill, where he hooted like the owl he was. His hoots always let me know the day was over.
“Meg? What are you doing?”
“It gets cold at night once you put the fire out, right? I’m going to use some magic to help keep the current temperature throughout the night.”
“Wow, I didn’t know you could do that.”
I dropped some magical herbs into the fireplace before chanting a twelve-part incantation. With that, the burning herbs quickly disintegrated into a haze, which dissipated throughout the room. This would prevent the room from being affected by the temperatures outdoors.
“It’s been so long since I last stayed here with you.”
“Yes, I recall you were still a small child the last time you did. You had fought with Lady Faust that day, too.”
I’d run away from home before when I was a little kid, much like I had today.
“Meg, it’s your responsibility to take care of the forest. What are you doing wandering around here?”
“Shut up, shut up, shut uuup! Why am I! The only one! Who has to work! All the time?! Why don’t you watch the forest if you love it so much?!”
“Your behavior is ludicrous! Do not avert your eyes from your own laziness! You have to earn your meals around here!”
“Then I’ll fast like a monk and maybe achieve enlightenment while I’m at it! You’re so mean! I hope you get reincarnated as something bad!”
“Come now, Meg! Where are you going?! Meg!”
I’d left the manor and wandered through Lapis. I didn’t have anywhere to go, but it would feel like I’d lost if I went home. I was looking up at the sky listlessly, when…
“Oh my. Are you all right, little one?”
…Grandma Flaire found me. She took me in and gave me some stew. From that day on, I would go to her house, where she would teach me about flowers and gardening. Despite this being so long ago, I could still remember the time we spent together like it was yesterday. This was likely because Grandma Flaire was still the same person she used to be.
“Your bed smells like flowers, just like you.”
“Is that so? I was taking care of my flowers today, so maybe some of their fragrance rubbed off on me.”
The scent was calming in a nostalgic sort of way. I took a deep breath before turning onto my back and facing her ceiling. It was a ceiling I knew well, though it was old and beginning to wear. This was likely because this house, which was meant for a family, was simply too large for a single elderly woman to maintain.
“Your house is getting a bit old, isn’t it? It’s been…how many years since your son left to live on his own?”
“I can’t even remember. It’s been so many years since he left.”
“Have you seen him lately?”
“He used to come and see me at the end of every year, but he hasn’t been able to lately since he’s become so busy.”
“I see…”
The loud ticking of her wall clock struck my ears. I didn’t know what to do; was it better for me to tell her that she might die soon? That it may be a good idea for her to visit her son again soon? I’d come here with the intent to save her from that death, but nothing was set in stone. Even if I taught her about the seed of life, there was a greater chance of Death taking her before we could ever create one. With there being no real plan B, the last thing I wanted was for my friend to leave this life with regret.
I couldn’t say it, though, not when I saw her smiling face. It made me realize how scary it was to tell someone about their death. Once a person knew, there was no going back to the bliss of ignorance.
“You’re going to die, Meg. It’ll happen in a year.”
Hearing that had changed my fate forever. I could only wonder how much courage my teacher had needed to muster up to tell me.
“Is something the matter, Meg?”
Grandma Flaire was looking at me with an affectionate expression.
“It looks like you have something on your mind.”
“Oh, you know, it’s just, uh…witch things…”
Unable to make up my mind about it yet, I tried to shrug off her concern for me, but she responded with “I see. I don’t know much about magic, but I’m always here if you need someone to listen.” Grandma Flaire then smiled before continuing. “It always warms my heart to see you smiling, Meg.”
“Grandma Flaire…”
What should I do? What is it that I can do? What can I do for my friend? How much longer does she have…?