Photo by Jacob Dyer on Unsplash
Bria hesitated, her hand resting on the doorframe. She was reluctant to intrude on Holden’s late-night sojourn to the deck. It had started months ago. Bria woke to find him missing and discovered him outside staring at the stars. An occasional event had become a nightly ritual. Bria noticed other changes, his preoccupation, the deepening crease in his forehead, and the sadness in his eyes.
She thought it would pass, that her inquisitive, carefree and loving Holden would return. But as time passed, she grew less certain, fear nibbled at her heart and she knew they needed to talk. Bria gathered her courage and stepped forward, reaching for him she caressed his waist.
“What is wrong with you?” she whispered.
Holden sighed, looped his arm over Bria’s shoulder and drew her to his side.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” he said as he kissed her hair. “Go back to bed.”
“No, answer me.”
“Home is calling,” he said.
“When?” her voice trembled.
“Three days.”
“I could come with you…”
“You won’t survive the journey. We discussed this, remember,” Holden wrapped his arms around her and crushed her against him.
“But you’ll return,” she repeated the rehearsed lines.
“You will be old, and I will be as I am now. I will love you forever.”
“You will tell me the new stories of Myall.”
“I promise,” Holden said.
Bria closed her eyes, silently pledging to tell Holden of the star child she carried when he honored his vow to return.
__________________________________________
Keep on writing.
Jo Hawk The Writer
Jo Hawk 
Awh!! Bittersweet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely story, Jo. I like the ambivalence of this story. Bria doesn’t tell Holden about the star-child. Is this because she doesn’t want to subject him to emotional blackmail about leaving; or cause him pain because he simply must go; or is she actually thinking, “Well, if you don’t come back, you’ll never see our child.”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good questions, Penny. I would like to believe she does love him and is trying to do the “right” thing. But as we all know that can often bite us in the butt. Glad you liked the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh i loved this so much! the fantasy setting, the wistful longing and the promise to divulge a secret, she may be too late…sigh….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Gina. It may be that she never gets to tell her secret. Only time will tell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sort of figured that could be the outcome, still it adds that suspense to the story, nicely ended Jo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your kind words. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
i never realised how much i miss your stories till i start reading them after an absence
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, that is very sweet of you to say. 💕 I am glad you are back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
slowly bit by bit
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely story. 🌟
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Chelsea. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person