‘I have nothing to say about that, and neither do you.’ I pointed an accusatory finger at him.
‘Speak for yourself. Because maybe I do have something to say.’
‘Well, keep it to yourself!’ I said, and made a beeline for the bathroom, where I could at least shut the door and have five minutes of peace.
‘Come on, we can’t keep our healer waiting. Our spiritual awakening starts in precisely thirty minutes.’
I groaned. ‘Give me five. I need five.’ I needed an entire lifetime, more like it.
This was Lizzy’s idea of hell. Talking about her feelings and opening herself to anything that resembled vulnerability. If you wanted to torture her, this would be how.
I couldn’t help smiling. Watching her squirm was going to be fun. Still, it was the perfect – albeit ridiculous – excuse to revisit those things that had been left unsaid between us. And maybe it was the opportunity I’d been waiting for.
I looked back down at the scroll, and the last line caught my attention:Only by walking barefoot through the flames of discomfort can two souls rekindle their divine love.
CHAPTER 39
The path to the jungle pavilion was lined with rose petals. Somewhere inside the thick undergrowth, I thought I heard the sound of a gong and wind chimes.
‘Ridiculous,’ I muttered under my breath as I walked reluctantly on, Cam at my side.
‘Wow, your aura is not vibrating with positivity,’ he said.
‘Don’t ever say “aura” again,’ I warned him, but he only laughed.
We arrived at a clearing containing a circular wooden platform lined with gauzy white drapes. Incense smoke curled through the air in lazy spirals. Ambient chanting hummed from unseen speakers, and I was sure those bird noises and babbling brook sounds were not real either. A woman emerged through the drapes as if she was somehow part of them; she might as well have been a drape herself, quite frankly, given that it looked like she was wearing one.
‘Namaste,’ she said. ‘I’m Sage.’
Of course she was.
She opened her arms in welcome, and a thousand shell bangles jangled together mystically. ‘Welcome to your Biometric Alignment Experience. Today we’ll open your channels to physical resonance, emotional recalibration and soul attunement.’
Cam coughed once, like he was trying not to laugh. I was trying not to run.
‘Come, let’s ground.’ She beckoned us onto the wooden platform and sat down cross-legged on a woven mat.
‘And by ground . . . you mean sit?’ I asked.
Sage smiled at me, dare I say it, sagely. ‘Don’t worry, most people arrive here sceptical, but they all leave enlightened.’
‘I don’t think you’ve had anyone like Lizzy before,’ Cam said, also lowering himself to the mat. I reluctantly followed suit. I could not wait for this whole ludicrous thing to be over.
‘Please face each another,’ Sage whispered. I looked across at Cam; the last bloody thing I wanted to do was face him, but when he started shuffling round, I realised I had no choice.
‘Good, lovely. Now place your hands on each other’s heart centres.’
‘Our what?’ I flicked my eyes at our instructor, healer, whatever. She demonstrated by gently laying her own hand over her heart.
‘Oh . . . chest! Right. And also . . .no,’ I said quickly.
She smiled at me knowingly. ‘We’ll start with something a little easier then. Hold your hands out in front of you and bring them close. They don’t have to touch yet.’
I sighed and raised my hands slowly. I could not believe I was doing this.
‘Come on, Lizzy, give me your hands,’ Cam teased, beckoning. I glared at him.
‘I could break another finger if you’re not careful.’
