Epilogue
Julia
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine …” I coo softly to Ferngully as I spritz her with mist. With it, I send a little warmth and light her way, just as Febin directed.
She’s flourishing. All the girls, named and fitting right in at Nathaniel’s house, are green and healthy. I have learned a lot about electromagnetic wavelengths these past few weeks and it turns out, that sure, I can kill a plant with radio waves, but I can also blast it with just the right amount of light waves to help it grow. With the help of the perfect concoction that Shemesh-Tek developed as fertilizer, all my girls are green and full.
I shake my head with a smile as I remember the team’s visit the other day. I have never felt so loved and like a part of a family. It’s the best feeling in the world and more than I ever thought I could have.
“Are you singing to the plants again?” Nathaniel comes up behind me, his strong arms circling my waist.
“At least I’m not talking to them?”
“This time.”
“You two need to keep that stuff in private,” Lincoln says.
“We aren’t doing anything,” I say at the same time Nathaniel says, “And you need to wear a cat bell so we know when you’re coming.”
Lincoln ignores his brother. “Are you ready? I don’t think Madame Curie can wait much longer.”
The sleek greyhound rescue is proving Lincoln’s point by pulling so hard at her harness she’s looks like a reindeer about to take flight. Her thin tail whips excitedly, smacking Lincoln in the leg.
Madame Curie is the only member of the family who’s as restless as Nathaniel. I have watched them play fetch for hours, neither of them showing signs of stopping.
“We’re going, we’re going.” Nathaniel slides his hand into mine and we make our way into the perfect summer night.
On our way out to the street, I check on the small garden flourishing under my constant attention. It’s just a few plants—some easy perennials and a few wildflowers. But it’s all mine. There’s just a hint of coolness in the air to warn of the coming changing season but for now it’s the perfect temperature to stroll through town with the ones I love.
Madame Curie pulls Lincoln a few feet ahead of us as Nathanial and I stroll peacefully hand in hand.
We turn down the street where I used to live and find the Davies out in the garden.
“We’re right behind y’all,” Mr. Davies calls out. He’s patiently holding out a shawl to wrap around his wife’s shoulders as she flutters final touches over her plants.
Their garden is flourishing again—thanks to Shemesh-Tek fertilizer and a little special love from yours truly—and as Mrs. Davies stops to sniff her roses, I feel a glow of warmth spread through me.
Nathaniel squeezes my hand, bringing me back to reality.
“I love you,” he whispers in my ear.
I nuzzle his shoulder with my cheek and whisper, “I love you too.”
I watch Mrs. Davies without realizing as she hums to the plant. Her gaze meets mine in a flash of clarity and a little buzz tickles the back of my brain. She gives me a conspiratorial wink. I don’t know if it’s because she knows what I did to the garden … or something else.
Ever since I met Maggie May, I can’t help but wonder who else might be walking around with abilities like mine.
Abilities. A gift. That is what it is--not a curse. Not an illness. I am healthier than ever because I have learned to love this extraordinary talent of mine.
“Come on. Or Lincoln is going to get there first and eat everything in town.” Teenage boys are no joke. After successfully completing the Lite-Brite project, Shemesh-Tek has been so busy, we have to turn away work requests. Thank goodness, or that kid would eat us out of house and home.
I tug Nathaniel along after waving goodbye to the Davies, who will meet up with us later.
We wander into the town square along with dozens of neighbors pouring in from all directions. We share waves and pleasantries with all we pass. It’s the annual Hot Springs Cleanse, a night when the hot springs in the center of town are at their most healing, according to legend. Nobody really knows where or why the festival started. Rumor has it that everybody used to hop in nude until they added the food trucks and bouncy castles and it morphed into a family affair.
Jared walks up and hugs me and fists bumps Nathaniel. Kate and her family show up later. Dylan and their partner Stacy swing by to say hello before getting in line for the hot springs. Even Febin is here too, both hands full of food at all times.
Whatever the reason for the event in the town square, I’m just happy to call El Lugar my home. Thankfully, there is a light breeze blowing the sulfur smell easterly and all that fills the air is the smell of popcorn and fried food. I lift my chin and close my eyes as a strong wind blows my hair back. There is something to the air though. I can feel it, but can’t define it.
