Acceptance Isn’t Easy

JP with Lorem and Omni

He took Voah’s hand, on her good arm, and squeezed it reassuringly while shaking his head no. He would not continue to listen to hopelessness or doubts.

“Voah … I LOVE my life. Is it good all time? No. Sometime I sad and not happy. But I still love life, because I see the purpose in it.”

He brought her in for a hug. “We all wish we live in no trouble times. But we no always get decide these things. All we can do is decide what we WILL do with time been given.”

He started to stand. “Please rest, I need to tend to fire and left over food. Will be back to join you soon.” He smiled warmly and departed the tent.

He began cleaning up the campfire and preparing any remaining crocodile meat. Now that he was out of her view, so that his raw reaction wouldn’t add to her guilt, he let the tears roll silently down his cheeks as he thought back to his people home and recalled their sweet faces and kind hearts.

His forgiveness, confidence, and calm demeanor meant worlds to Voah. It was exactly what she needed in this moment of despair. She was left contemplating several things at his abrupt departure.

She overturned her wrist and traced the lines of her tattoo with her other thumb. She was struck with a deep desire to flay it off or scratch it out in anger until it was no longer recognizable, but she didn’t scratch very long before she stopped in pain and grief. The Pillars had given her meaning and purpose her whole life… removing it wouldn’t change anything. Besides it could get infected and there was no boon, no Cagliostro to treat such a wound.

When Gonyaul had finished tending to the camp he found Voah slumped over asleep. The map lay next to her with a new landmark. Drawn in ink at their estimated location was a sword with the words Vastad’s Reckoning flourished in her beautiful script. But the ink was smudged in places from what could only be spatters of tear drops.