Page 65 of A Broken Promise

“No. Do you?” she shot back defensively.

“I mean yes, but I guess technically, no. But that’s because I grew up differently. Elves have a different way of naming things.”

“Who says I didn’t grow up differently either?”

“I mean, clearly you did.” I smirked giving a look around the enormous training room with work out gear, fighting pads, armory, and the target practice area.

It was nothing but a clear red flag for “different.”

“What is your last name then?” Priya asked, her eyebrows bunched up.

“It’s not a last name per se. Elves give you a name and then call you daughter or son of whoever you were son/daughter of... Tuluma was very creative with mine,” I sarcastically said. “She called me Finnleah, Daughter of the Dead, since my parents died and I was born on the day of the Dead. She used to say it was meant to be since we were constantly running away from Death too.” I paused. Tuluma would get a good laugh at how accurate that name has become. “Honestly, now that I think of it, it is rather fitting, considering my occupation.”

Death seemed to be the only constant in my life.

“Oh, I think it’s rather shit.” Priya chuckled from the corner.

“Well thanks for that.” I grimaced at her. “Would you want one?”

“A last name?” she asked. I quickly nodded, taking a sip of water. Gods, even my neck was sore. “Fuck no, it’s exciting. I am to be nameless, just Priya the queen of everything.”

“Or nothing.” I teased her.

“A lot to say for a girl that can’t land her punches fast enough,” she said smugly.

“For now,” I added, smiling.

“Would you?” she asked me back.

“Get a last name? Oh, most definitely, yes, always wanted one. I think it’s quite romantic to take a man’s name in marriage. A notion that I am forever to be his. For everyone to know that we are a husband and wife. A single unit. Forever united. And for our kids to carryourfamily name. It’s very cute. Plus, it’s not like I have one I’d like to keep.” I chuckled.

“Gods, Freckles, so many wrong things one after another. Marry? Bleh. Man’s name? More bleh. A child? A living breathing child ANDyour OWN? I think I am for sure going to throw up.” Priya theatrically gagged a few times. I rolled my eyes and chuckled but continued.

“I mean, not now but one day. I’ve always wanted to have a family. We’d live in some dreamy cottage and have a garden. A big barn too and a horse, maybe two. A dog and for sure a cat. Gods, I always wanted a big fluffy dog and a big, red barn cat. Maybe even a few goats. For sure, chickens. We’d paint our small fence together while our kids played tug of war with a dog and laugh, and then I’d bake one of those delicious pies and then we’d all cuddle into the night on our small little swing with lots of blankets and watch the sunsets together while snuggling our small, sleepy babies.” I closed my eyes for a second.

My little dream. I had once been so close to that. Once. I could’ve had that with Ollie. In my previous dreams, Tuluma was always there with us too, chasing after the kids and telling us to never make more, yet spoiling them rotten with anything they’d ask for.

I craved that life for so many years. A place for her and me to feel at home, to never be cast out again, to live the remainder of our lives together. Tuluma was supposed to outlive me. She always said that she’d tell my great-great grandkids just how difficult I was. We would have a family, a nice warm house, a place of happiness and peace.

Every night for years I dreamed of that; imagined my future life. Every night, until I lost it all. I grieved that life for me too. There would be no Tuluma there, and it wouldn’t be Ollie swinging on the swing with me. That little cottage and those sunsets would never be the same without them. The little drops of sorrow clouded my mind as the dark rainy clouds on the summer day.

“Are you high?” Priya’s face was filled with laughter. “Did I kick you too hard this time? Or did you go sniffing stuff in my lab?”

“Oh, whatever,” I sneered, finally getting up on my feet. A little flush of embarrassment ran through my face. It was foolish of me to share that part of me. It was also dangerous of me to even consider a world where I could have a family. My own loving family, my own kids that I would take care of. My family that I would love more than anything in the world.

Perhaps I was delusional indeed.

No, I knew better than giving myself a false sense of hope.

“Don’t you ever dream?” I asked curiously, walking past Priya’s curvy figure, getting more water.

“Oh, I dream, alright.” Priya’s luscious lips stretched in a wide, wicked smile. “Except my dreams are a lot more entertaining than your pathetic housewife ideas.”

“You say that, but really, what is your wildest, craziest dream?” I squinted my eyes in determination. Priya was an enigma when it came to her thoughts.

“I don’t have one. My life is perfect as it is. Why dream of anything when you can already have anything you want?”

“You must have something you truly dream of,” I insisted.

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