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With the nights drawing in closer, there’s nothing you like more than to settle down of an evening in front of a warm fire, fighting away the chill. Better still if you have Shadowheart by your side, your lover huddling into your body for warmth.
Tonight though, things are different. You’re both out in the cold, staring at two names now forever immortalised in stone; Shadowheart’s parents. The final sacrifice she had to make to free herself from Shar. Part of you has wondered ever since that day if you should have talked her out of letting them die, but you know in your heart the decision she made was the right one, as much as it hurts.
Shadowheart shakes her head, her eyes focused on the headstone before her. ‘This seems such a pointless gesture. Is that all my parents are now? Two names cast in stone atop an empty grave? My family, gone…’ Her voice waivers at that, tears already welling in her eyes. It was your idea to set this up, for her to have a place to come on the nights she missed them. With the year now in its final month, and loved ones now gathering all over the city, she seems to be missing them now more than ever.
You wrap an arm around her, bringing her in close. ‘Not at all. You might not remember them, but they’ll always be with you. In your heart, if nothing else. This is just to make them seem more tangible I suppose, but if it’s hurting you to be here, maybe we should remove it?’ Neither of you have seen a moon mote since the day you set her parents free, in a sense. For your lover’s sake you pray one day that will change.
With a small hum, Shadowheart dismisses your suggestion. ‘That’s the very last thing I want. Better to have proof they existed. I guess this makes me the last of my line. A pity my family’s history will end with a whimper.’ She places a night orchid in front of the headstone, her hand trembling with unspoken grief and tears that refuse to fall.
The pair of you stand in silence then, reflecting on things. You wish you had the words to ease her pain, but you know that grief doesn’t work that way. It never has, and it never will. Nothing you say will ever change the way she feels. The best you can hope for is soothing her, and coaxing her to let her feelings out.
Placing a quick kiss on your lover’s head, you choose your next words carefully. ‘Your line may have ended, but you still have a family, if you want one.’ You can’t help but tuck a stray hair behind one of her pointed ears, her skin as smooth and cold as marble thanks to the night.
Shadowheart quirks her brow. ‘Unless you’ve uncovered some lost secret from my past, I’m pretty sure I don’t.’ Part of you wishes you could uncover an uncle for her or something, to shed some light on her past, but you’re pretty sure she’s right; her blood relations are long gone.
Remorsefully, you shake your head. ‘Nothing like that, I’m afraid. But just because you don’t have any relatives, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a family. I could be your family, if you wish. Your loving wife, forever at your side. I’m sure our friends feel the same. The bonds we forged with circumstance are far stronger than blood could ever create.’ You take both of her hands in yours, bringing them to your chest and moving closer.
Tears finally start to leak from Shadowheart’s eyes, glinting on her cheeks in the low light. ‘I think I like the sound of that.’ She rests her forehead against yours, smiling. ‘Shall we head home, then? The last thing either of us need is to get sick lingering with the ghosts of my past. Maybe we should invite some of this family of ours to dinner soon? ‘Tis the season, after all.’ Her lips brush over your cheek, and you nuzzle your nose against hers, her fringe flirting with her eyes.
You start to walk away, keeping your hands locked with hers. No matter what happens now, you know in your heart that as long as you have her, you have all the family you’ll ever need. You’ll make sure she feels the same way, especially on nights like this.
As you walk off back home, neither of you notice the two motes dancing in approval around the headstone.