I nod, knowing that would be one of her requests. “I would like to have access to my money. I earned all of that through hard work.” She starts to open her mouth to argue, but I hold up my hand. “I will provide receipts for everything because I know you have to provide evidence to the courts.”
“Thank you,” she says with a grateful tilt of her head. “I don’t like it when you come home injured or covered in bruises.”
“I’ve tried avoiding them. Different routes, times, outrunning them. I assure you, I didn’t do anything to provoke their hatred. They told me I don’t belong in their town.”
Her lips pinch in, revealing a brief glimpse of anger. Though it feels strange now that it’s not aimed at me. “You are my family and belong here with me. If it happens again, we’ll file an assault charge with the sheriff.”
My jaw nearly hits the floor in surprise. This is a better reaction than I could have imagined.
“I would like you to attend church with me, but I will not require it.”
“Going to church with you is not a hardship.” I will continue to go since I have no qualms with her God, just the judgmental people in the church.
“I can’t say I understand your attraction to the same gender, nor do I agree with it, but I do love you.” The shock must beplainly written on my face, if the gentle smile on hers is any consolation. “I do love you, Rami. The Bible also teaches us not to place judgement on others and to love as God does. And because I’m human, I will likely stumble, but I will try to do better. For you.”
I leap from the couch and wrap my grandmother into a tight hug which she returns with a heavy sigh. “That means the world to me, Grandma.”
Taking a few more seconds to breathe in this monumental moment between us, I then sit back on the couch. I need to return to why I wanted to speak with her in the first place.
“I’ve met someone.”
She nods, thoughtfully. “And that’s where you’ve been going when you sneak out, I presume?”
“It is.” No point in denying it. “But it’s complicated. I can only see Adriel at night, and something in my gut is telling me he needs my help right now.”
She chuckles lightly. “You have the intuition of a woman,” she muses, and I can’t help but smile along with her.
I take a deep breath to steel my nerves. The gauntlet must be thrown down if we are truly going to move forward from all of this. “If I’m not allowed to see him, I will continue to sneak out or run away.”
“Do you love him?”
“Maybe?” I shrug. “It’s still fairly new, but I think it’s definitely blossoming into love.”
“Then what is so complicated? Is he married?”
“Grandma! Have a little faith in me,” I tease.
She holds her hands up in mock surrender. “Sorry.” Though the sweet smile never leaves her face.
“H-He’s a cursed witch who lives in the woods,” I mumble.
Her head bobs along with the rocking of her chair. “Well, I’d definitely say that complicates things.”
“That’s it? You just believe me?” I question, flabbergasted.
She lifts one shoulder in a faint shrug, taking a sip of her drink. “I nearly ruined our relationship before we had a chance to get started because I didn’t listen to you from the beginning.
“But,” she enunciates with a snap. “You will remain safe when you visit him, and no more sneaking out. You let me know when you’re leaving so I don’t have to worry as much. And never before dinner, or if you haven’t completed your schoolwork for the day.”
“Deal,” I say, wiping away the tears of joy.
“Now rush off. I’ll clean up.” I push up from the couch and rush to the doorway of the sitting room. “And, Rami?” I pause, turning to face my grandmother. “Do be safe, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I quickly rush to my room to pack a bag with a first aid kit, just in case. By the time I’ve returned to the main house, Grandma Julia is in the kitchen cleaning up our dishes. She slides me a small bag of snacks to take with me. I wrap her in a big bear hug, thanking her profusely before I leave out the back door.
By the time I hit the treeline, the sun is just starting to set, which means Adriel is getting his day started. I rush along the familiar path toward Adriel’s territory, no longer needing to look behind me. With Grandma Julia’s blessing, I walk through the woods much more confident.
