"Great! When I handed this part of my duties over to you, I never imagined everything would go so smoothly.” He paused, then added. “Now I see why he’s so taken with you. The real question is, why would you need someone like him?” I stared at him, surprised, and he laughed. “I’m joking. But, seriously, if you ever do anything to hurt him, I will make your life unbearable.”
I looked up at him, noticing another side of him that I had not seen before. Underneath the mask of a competent leader, was a caring older brother.
“Don’t worry, I know what you mean. I have a brother too, and I would do anything to protect him,” I said.
“I’m glad we understand each other.” He nodded.
Suddenly, there was the sound of tiny feet on the gravel, and the next moment a child attached himself to Hanoch’s leg.
“There you are, buddy.” Hanoch picked the boy up and placed him on his shoulders.
I looked back, noticing a beautiful young woman, with long curly hair the color of wild honey, walking toward us with a gentle smile on her lips.
“Where are the other three?” Hanoch turned toward her and his face immediately softened.
“They’re playing,” the woman responded, but her eyes lingered on me.
“I don’t think you two met. Aly, this is Emma, my wife. And this little fellow is my son, Toby.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, extending my hand.
“I’ve heard so much about you. I just wanted to tell you that you did a fantastic job organizing everything.” She smiled.
“Thank you.”
Hanoch walked in front of us with Toby still sitting high on his shoulders. Toby was squealing with excitement every time Hanoch bounced him up in the air.
“I wish I could offer you help,” Emma said.
“You have too much on your plate.” I looked back at her.
“It’s a lot, but it makes me so happy. I thank the gods everyday for everything I have.”
My thoughts went back to Tynan.
Would he be a good father? Would he want to have children?
There were so many things we never discussed. I had no idea how he saw our future.
Was I a part of any long term planning?
I turned my gaze back to Hanoch and Toby, realizing that seeing them together stirred thoughts in me, things I had not even known I wanted. It came to me right then – as clear as the morning sun. I wanted a family of my own one day, a home that was warm, messy, and loud. Where every night I would feel completely spent, exhausted, and incredibly happy.
Shortly after we parted ways, I continued walking through the valley, but my thoughts relentlessly pulled me back to Tynan and the others. Two days had already passed. I desperately needed to know if he was alright, the worry was almost unbearable. My imagination painted grim images of an undead beast with its rotten, decaying belly, turning its head and spreading its wings.
"He’s alright,” a voice came from somewhere below.
“Excuse me?” I turned my head.
“Your man’s alright.”
I looked down, and finally noticed two feet sticking out from behind a neatly stacked pile of wood on the side of the road.
Carefully, I moved closer, spotting an older man dressed in tattered pants and no shirt. His body looked battered and malnourished, but his face held a content expression, and he even smirked when he saw me approaching.
“You’re a beauty. I understand him better now,” he said.
“Do I know you?”
