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“You know what? I think I’m ready to accept that I gave you a hard time for all these years. I was just a kid and I didn’t know anything about the world. It was all about me, but I never thought about what would make you happy. I see now that you never would have fit into the world, just like I was never going to fit into it. I tried to delude myself into thinking that I could have that life, but I can see now that I was meant for something more, for something different. I’m sorry for not seeing your point of view more,” I said.
Mom and Dad had tears in their eyes as they hugged me and for the first time in a long time I felt their comforting embrace. For so long now, I had assumed I would never see them again. I thought the paths of our lives were taking us in completely opposite directions, but it seemed as though we were actually going to the same place, just on different paths. I had endured a lot during my life, after I separated myself from my parents I fell in love with Andy, and at my lowest ebb I didn’t think there would be any hope for me. But, through it all, I had found Rick and Dalton. They would be my salvation, and I would have their babies. I would give birth to powerful lions and I would teach them all about life and love, and what it meant to be a part of this world, and my parents would be here as well, offering their services as grandparents.
The feast went on all night and everyone was in a good mood. I met so many new people that I could barely remember their names. All their faces blurred into one and I didn’t know how long it was going to take me to remember all of them, but I supposed I was going to have to get used to it.
“So, are you sure you’re ready for this?” Dalton asked.
“Are you?” I replied, arching an eyebrow in a cocky manner. I fell into his arms and rested my head against his chest.
“I think I am,” he said.
“I think I am too,” I replied. “I’m glad that you kept chasing after me.”
“I’m glad that Rick was able to get through to you when I couldn’t.”
“The two of you do work well as a team. Dalton, I hope you know that I love you and Rick, and I want to have your children too.”
“I know Ellie. We’re going to have a good life together, all three of us.”
I looked into his eyes and I believed him entirely. Then Rick came over and I stared at both of them. As I did so I started to get a sense of the future, of what our lives would be like together. I could picture us with children. I saw Dalton and Rick taking them out, teaching them about their culture and how to be lions. I also thought about how I would teach them about the wider world. I loved the feeling that my blood was going to be mixed in with Dalton and Rick’s to create a new generation of lions, and it was all going to come from me. They had been searching for someone like me for a long time. I hadn’t known it, but I had been searching for them, and now that we had found each other we could start to be happy.
Epilogue
Returning to the city was bewildering. I had spent so long in the home of the lions that I had gotten used to the quiet and the serenity. Life there was peaceful, with plenty of time to explore the world and focus on mindful activities. I had learned more about their culture and history, and the relationship between Rick, Dalton and I had only grown deeper. The more time I spent with them the more my love grew, and it somehow made all of the pain worthwhile, for I knew that without that pain I wouldn’t have been led to Rick and Dalton. They had given me so much love, and the rest of the pride had been welcoming as well. They took their cue from their leader and none of them showed me any kind of enmity for not being a lion. My parents were pleased that I had taken this role, and there was nothing I could be unhappy about.
A few months had passed. Not long after we slept together I started showing the signs of pregnancy. Now my belly had a healthy roundness to it and I apparently gave off a glow, although I couldn’t understand that myself, because I just felt nauseous and ached all the time. I found the city daunting after all this time. I looked up at the towering skyscrapers and felt my chest tighten when I walked through a crowd of people. It seemed amazing to me that I could have lived here on a daily basis and endured all of this.
I walked to the café and smiled widely when I saw Jennifer waiting for me. She leapt up and hugged me tightly, before exclaiming her astonishment at my size.
“I can’t believe it’s finally happened. Ellie is going to be a Mommy, and all this after you swore you wouldn’t have a family.”
I smiled shyly as I sat down. “I think I had a few unresolved issues with my parents.”
“No doubt. So what’s it like? Tell me everything! I feel like you dropped off the face of the earth for a while there.”
“I know, I’m sorry about that. I just found this letter from my parents and I felt like I had to go and find them and perhaps get some direction back in my life. Sometimes the only place to go is home, and since they’re my home…” I shrugged.
“Is it just the same as you remember?”
“Actually, it’s better. I think I can understand them more now than I could when I was younger. Back then I disagreed with everything they did and now, well, I kind of see their point.”
“So you’re giving up the idea of ever coming back to the city? I’ve been keeping your seat warm at the office. It’s not the same w
ithout you.”
I gave her a reluctant look. “You know Jennifer, I was thinking a lot about it and I just…I tried too hard to be like you. I was never made for the corporate world. I need to be surrounded by love. it took me too long to realize that. I think that’s why I put up with Andy for so long. I tried to delude myself into thinking that I could focus on my career, but even when I tried my hardest to enjoy it, I didn’t feel as fulfilled as I should have been. I tried for that promotion and not getting it took the wind out of my sails, but it never hurt as much as being alone did. I’m not strong enough to be alone, but I am strong enough to be a part of a family and make myself vulnerable again.”
“Are you happy?” she asked. I looked down at my stomach and smiled.
“Happier than I’ve ever been. I feel at ease with myself in a way I never have before. And I can’t wait until this little person is born.”
“That’s all that matters then,” Jennifer smiled. “I’ll put through the paperwork to state that you’re never coming back,” her words choked in her throat. “Did you come here to say goodbye?”
I cast my eyes downwards. “I’m sorry, Jennifer. The place we’re staying is…it’s not advanced like this place. We don’t have technology. It’s so peaceful and quiet. We can just be together and not have to worry about any pressure.” I told Jennifer that we were living in a commune. I wasn’t about to let their secret slip. I wasn’t like Sarah. The secret of the lions was my secret now, and we wouldn’t reveal it to the world until we were ready. It felt awful lying to my best friend, but there were times when other things took importance. I wished that I could tell her everything though, about Rick and Dalton, but even though Jennifer would have understood I decided to keep things as simple as possible and focused the conversation upon my repaired relationship with my parents.
“I’ll come back as often as I can. I want my children to meet their Aunt Jennifer,” I said.
“I’ll try and come to visit you, as well, if it’s possible,” she said. I smiled, knowing that it wasn’t going to be possible. I wished it was, but there was a long way to go before lions and humans could interact with each other, but the first steps would be taken at some point. In a way, I supposed they had been taken already by me, Rick and Dalton. It seemed so long ago now that I had met them outside the Blue Lagoon, and they had rescued me from a man who tried to take advantage.
