Page 232 of Frost and Death
The impact of my embrace has them all grunting. They wrap their arms around me, my father’s wise, tender voice filling the darkness.
“You’re home, dear.”
I nuzzle into each of them, squeezing them as if they are my own air—my own breath.
A small flood of light beams from behind my family, forcing us to break apart. We turn, the light glowing and expanding, bright enough to fill and diminish the darkness surrounding us.
The lightest of white borders the warm yellow hues, reminding me of a crisp winter’s snow or a soft, delicate cloud. As if the light knows my thoughts, the sensation of wind, cold and calm, floats across my face, blowing hair away from my vision.
The bright rays of light shine around us. I am in awe and filled with curiosity, desiring to explore this space.
My father holds my hand, squeezing it tight enough for my eyes to look up at him. His wrinkles are thick on his forehead, eyes, and cheeks from years of raised brows and full smiles.
He bends down, kissing my head before letting go and walking toward the rays of light.
A surge of his love vibrates through me, comforting me and soothing me with the promise of more hugs and reunions soon. He vanishes into the light, and a surprising comfort warms me.
I rub the heat in the center of my chest as my mother faces me.
“Thank you, my sweet girl,” she says.
I tilt my head. “For what? Mother, why did you do all of this?”
She grins at Runa and me, pulling us close. “Because it is what the Makers wanted from me and from you.”
I blink rapidly, not understanding her. “What did they want?” I keep a tight hold of her, needing answers.
“For you to be the start of helping us all find peace,” she whispers before pulling away.
Her maternal love radiates as she kisses my cheeks, holding them and staring intently into my eyes. Tears line her vision, a direct reflection of me.
“I’ll see you soon, my sweetheart,” my mother whispers, looking at Runa and glancing back at me once more.
The right side of Mother’s lip lifts, her hands drifting down my arms, lingering before she walks toward the light.
Runa laces her fingers with mine.
When I look down at our connection, my lip trembles at the soft circles she runs against my skin. And when I meet my sister’s jade-green eyes, I am met with her beautiful smile.
Regret surges forth, my guilt and shame for ending her life leading me to avert my gaze as tears fall.
“I-I’m so sorry, Runa,” I sob, covering my face.
My cries are the only sound between us, and I pour my heart and soul into repeated apologies, begging for her and the Makers’ forgiveness.
Runa embraces me. “Tove, it’s okay.” She tries reassuring me, but the shame is too overwhelming. “There is nothing to forgive.”
“H-How can you say that?” I ask, clutching her tight. “I am a monster.”
She pulls us apart and inclines my head to look at her. “Tove, it was my fate. The Makers had spoken that day, as they do now.”
I remember some of Runa’s last words on that fateful day, not understanding. Still not understanding now. “Runa—”
“Tove.”
I snivel, feeling unworthy as she helps dry my tears and holds my cheeks, as our mother did.
She combs my hair away from my face and holds my cheek. “There is no monster inside of you. There is no Snow Queen inside of you. Only Tove. Only my sister. My kind, passionate, inspiring sister who is sunshine itself.”
