It takes another hour before I thaw out completely. All the while, my mother clenches her hands and prays desperately over my body in the low guttural sounds that is her speaking-in-tongues. They are her unique perversions of words that are undoubtedly disturbing to hear, but she chants them in a cadence that’s somehow lulling at the same time. Leave it to Mom to be simultaneously frightening and soothing, as only an insane mother can be.
I know I’m getting my body back but I just lie there until I can sit up. I start to occasionally blink and breathe normally long before I sit up, but no one notices. Between my sister’s stitched and automaton-like presence at my feet, and my mother’s non-stop prayers over my head, I suppose my still body is the least interesting thing to look at.
The day is dawning.
I never realized what a triumph it was to simply be alive. My sister is with us. Raffe is flying. Everything else is secondary.
And for now, that is enough.
~
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A very special thanks goes out to my terrific editor, Gryphon, whose commitment to the book inspired me. Thanks also to my awesome beta readers Nyla, Jessica, Eric, Adrian Khactu, and Travis Heermann for their amazing and insightful feedback which brought the story up to the next level. Thanks to John Skotnik for catching those last minute copyediting issues and to Peter Adams, photographer extraordinaire, for taking such great author photos.
And of course, a heartfelt thanks to Aaron, whose artistic nurturing and encouragement helped me find the way.