“So why did we stop?” I asked, surprised to hear how breathless I’d become. “Why did you stop the wand? It worked. I was seeing… her… I was her.” I sank back into the couch as the reality of my words sank in. Sammy had come that day to save me. I felt it. Every part of her longed to rescue me, keep me safe. Suddenly, I felt guilty for my earlier statements about her only serving herself. She’d come into existence at a moment that could have meant immediate death to not only me, but also her. Yet, she still came. She wanted to save me. A strange, new ache filled my heart. A certain kind of sadness.
Tonbo squeezed my shoulder. “You did extremely well, Samantha, but I think you’ve had enough for today.”
I wanted to protest, but at his touch, I became aware of something else. My shirt was wet. I glanced down, shocked to see I was drenched in sweat. Glancing back up at Tonbo, I didn’t argue with him anymore. I felt like I could barely move, the exhaustion settling over me, letting me know I was done too.
“When can we do this again?” I asked instead.
“Depends on how well you rest tonight,” Tonbo said, his lips twitching. “When do your parents expect you home?”
“Monday night. So we have all day tomorrow and most of Monday, since flying home doesn’t take that long.”
“Alright, why don’t we get a fresh start in the morning? I think you’ve had a big enough day. I’m sure you’re wiped out from just flying around the Outskirts, and now this.” Tonbo held up the wand, glancing over at it.
I didn’t want to look at the thing, even though it had provided a passageway into Sammy’s memories. Tonbo’s words had drudged up a different question, unrelated to Sammy.
“Yes, it’s been a day,” I agreed. “I even met one of the Irukas… or should I say mere-people?”
“Oh, how lovely! Who?”
“Aster. She was pretty upset with Kory taking away so many of them.”
Tonbo frowned. “Sad, sad business. Kory keeps meddling where he shouldn’t.”
“Tonbo,” I began, wanting to ask about the whole natural-born thing Blake had mentioned earlier, but a beeping sound interrupted me. I glanced around, not understanding where it had come from, until Tonbo pressed the ever-present long, silver piece in his ear.
“Yes,” he said. He listened for a moment and then said, “Of course he may come in. Our session is done. I should’ve let him know—”
Tonbo didn’t even finish his sentence before the door was opened and Blake rushed in. I could see the worry all over his face. One look at me, and his concern seemed to double.
“Are you okay?” he asked, dropping down to my side. I felt silly that I was still lying down on the couch.
I tried to reassure him. “I’m totally fine. Don’t worry, Blake.”
“She did great,” Tonbo confirmed. “She connected beautifully and on the first try.”
Blake’s eyes widened. “It worked?” He peered down at me, his hands gripping mine. I tried to sit up, wincing slightly at the jabbing pain that shot through my skull.
“Are you hurt? What’s wrong?” Blake asked, helping me up. He climbed on to the couch next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I think he noticed how wet my clothes were, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he shot Tonbo a withering look. “I thought this was supposed to be safe.”
I must look as awful as I feel.
“I’m fine, Blake, really, I’m just tired. Tonbo said I need to rest tonight, and then we can try again tomorrow.”
Blake’s jaw tightened at the mention of doing this again, but he didn’t disagree. For now.
“She’s right, Blake. It didn’t cause her physical pain. Just exhaustion. Nothing a warm bath and some good sleep won’t fix,” Tonbo reassured. “I’m very impressed with how well it did go, actually.”
Blake seemed to consider his words as he glanced down at me. He brushed the hairs stuck to my forehead back, not seeming to mind my sweat.
“I did it, Blake. I connected with her. I was Sammy, in my mind anyway. It was like I could see and feel what she felt. I only saw one memory today. That’s why we want to do it again. There’s still so much to see.”
“What did you see?” he asked.
I grinned up at him. “You. Saving me from drowning.”
His brows rose up, and a smile spread across his lips. “You saw that?”
“More like felt it,” I said, remembering how his hands had felt on my hips. We’d been kids then. He’d been a boy trying to save a drowning girl. Suddenly, it seemed profound or ironic, I couldn’t decide which, that the second Sammy entered my life was the exact time Blake had too.
“I felt you under the water. Touched your face even.” I stopped, brushing my fingers against his cheek, still remembering how his younger face had felt. “Then you pulled me up.”
His smile grew as he leaned into my hand, kissing it with his lips. It’d been a defining moment for both of us—saving me had given him a purpose. From then on, he’d watched over me. Those small boy hands that had gripped my waist so long ago, pulling me from my own hellish nightmare, were still here, holding on to me, now. Trying to lift me from the hell that shrouded me. It felt right I should remember what happened in the water so long ago.
I didn’t know if she could hear my thoughts or not, but I thought it anyway. Thank you, Sammy.