trails. 2.5 years.
It had been 2 and a half years since Jen had walked out the door of their vine-woven sanctuary and never looked back. When days turned to weeks and weeks to months with no word from him, Liya had been forced to accept the cold truth - he wasn't coming back.
Their parting had been bittersweet but loving, a recognition that their passions had run their course, leaving two souls forever bonded by adversity but now seeking separate horizons. As the acute pain dulled to a persistent ache, Liya had wished him anonymous well-being out there chasing the restless dreams that still called to his wild spirit. Surely Jen would remember the gentle love awaiting here if he ever wearied of racing comets across strange skies.
But months became years of silence. Flickers of news reached them even in this far sanctuary - Jen's rising notoriety on the mercenary racing circuits, the questionable crowds he ran with, the life he was rebuilding so far removed from family and conscience. It stabbed Liya's heart seeing the mate she cherished become unrecognizable - reckless, cruel, ensnared by ghosts that would not rest. Still she lit candles every week in the grove beyond sight of little Aurora, who sometimes asked wide-eyed about her disappeared father before bright distractible innocence drew her attention elsewhere.
Their daughter was seven now, flourishing happily with cosmic talents nurtured gently by caregivers who filled Jen's absence. Watching Aurora grow more radiant and consummately compassionate each year, Liya was secretly glad he remained distant. She dreaded exposing this sensitive child to whatever Jen had become out there, feared seeing confusion cloud her eyes at his monstrous degeneration. Some stains could not be made whole again.
But one late summer evening as Liya walked the meadow path bathed in golden dusk light, a silhouette emerged seeming to manifest from ether and memory at once. Strong frame now gaunt beneath a weathered poncho, black hair silver-threaded but eyes aching with lifetimes endured alone. Without words, she knew the restless wayfarer had found his way back by long eroded trails. However impossible, Jen had returned to long abandoned hearth and guardianship, fated to meet his mysterious daughter at last however undeserving after years of rootless wandering.
No judgements or cold welcome greeted the prodigal guardian in that luminous meadow between shadows. Seeing Liya's tears well, he went gently to one knee like a penitent before eyes that still held his entire history. When she raised him up with fierce embrace, time and trials fell away leaving only profound relief. Whatever black mountains had been crossed, this worn equipoise revealed Jen's spirit emerging intact, burned pure by remorseless stars.
At gentle urging they walked slowly together through arches of vines toward shelter, hands bound more by shared history than passion now. Much lay to reconcile by star's silent witness, but beginnings required only presence without demands. Peace flowed in place of urgent longings that once defined them. Tomorrow awaited renewed equanimity. Tonight it was enough reunited souls found their way home.
When Aurora burst delightedly from the house to meet them, Liya instinctively moved to shield her from the haggard stranger she must be told was father by blood if not memory. But her breath caught seeing Jen kneel while his daughter slowed in wariness, gazing up with cosmic eyes that pierced veils toconnect innocently across dreary years apart. She saw him fully despite rough exterior - understood blood and spirit as only candid hearts can. Without judgement or shame they appraised one another, leaving room for errors and redemption. Then Aurora stepped forward and hugged Jen fiercely tight.
"Father lost his way but we'll help you learn the woods again," she murmured into his shoulder. Stunned acceptance swept over Jen followed by racking release as this unlooked for absolution kindled flickers of wholeness once thought cold and dead inside. Sheltering arms enfolded him back tenderly, summoning vitality from each other's radiant core. Lost lamb restored and shepherd guided dear - confession had come through wisdom's young but ancient mouth.
The days turned gently as Jen regained strength of body and convictions. Years fell from him breathing the crisp air and sharing simple hours without hurry. None pressed about past or future, just slow regaining of timeless balance that revolved at its own measure here. But always nearby was Aurora, a bright sprite conjuring whimsical distractions if darker thoughts clenched his jaw unguardedly. With innocent brilliance, she sensed emotions' undercurrents and responded intuitively where others might withdraw uncomfortably. She was Jen's beacon guiding him safely through the dangerous narrows still shadowed in his psyche. Already heavily in her debt, he strove earnestly to deserve this second chance and consecrated purpose.
Finally came a cool evening when Jen joined Liya by the moonlit pond, silence no longer uneasy between them. She turned in quiet recognition as he sat with packet of papers bound in twine whose significance showed on his face. Liya touched Jen's wrist wordlessly as he unburdened journal entries and certificates with the outpost magistrate's rough signature. They revealed efforts across wilderness worlds to redress debts left outstanding along his bloody wake - reparations dispensed, foundlings raised up properly, environmental exploitation he had enabled now reversed through humble toil. Step by agonizing step he had crawled thus from wreckage that once brought such pride. Now bare and penitent, Jen submitted this accounting silently to Liya's impartial eyes. There rested the last cold ledger haunting corners of his conscience. If no redemption might be found even here, he would accept her word and vanish back into starry void leaving only sorrow behind. Vulnerability was starkest nakedness - but perceptions beyond his could better judge worthiness to remain as guardian to their miraculous child. He had no defenses left to offer.
Liya's eyes traced every line as candle flame guttered gently. When she finally looked up, no icy contempt hardened her expression at infractions enumerated. She simply took Jen's weathered hands in hers with a tremulous smile. Then pulled his forehead down so their tears mingled gratefully - absolution given was gift foregone to heal the broken. At last Jen let fall the crushing pack he had hauled these long leagues for her weary appraisal. It slid silently into the pool, ripples only disturbing moon's reflection briefly. That water lay still again while two figures leaned closer bathed in radiance from within. Ancient wounds began closing under tender stars.
When Jen ultimately gathered himself and moved to rise, Liya drew unexpectedly near once more. Beneath silvered reflected gleam, she kissed him softly - not passion's herald but benediction upon the long road home. So many different lives brought them here again past trials endured. A quieter affection stirred embers gently seeing how much lay squared at such cost. Tomorrow's sun heralded more work and conversations hard fought, but here at journey's end wrapt in celestial grace, all was peaceful. They had written epics measured by heartbeats. For now silence sufficed cradled by the velvet night.
Word spread quickly across the sanctuary of Jen's unexpected return from whatever roads or demons had captured his soul years prior. Reactions ran the gamut from standoffish suspicion to embracing joy that he still lived and drew breath despite himself. But following wise Aurora's welcoming lead, the family drew tentative warmth from thawing embers. However changed without or within, this was the same soul who through bleak years had stayed constant as an eclipsed star fixed in secret allegiance. Respect was reflexive even if trust required patience.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Feeling the stigma and shame of his prodigal years daily, Jen immersed in manual labor assisting Jax with heavy lifting jobs throughout the homestead and wider community. The taciturn mechanic had always brought levity and loyalty even during Jen's flounders with conscience and confidence. Without pressure or pity, Jax guided hisTag with equal humor if more ribs showed. They worked productively through scorching days harvesting or hammering, words stingily spent but bonds implicitly mended through shared necessary toil. Building instead of demolition, provision in place of plunder. Out here bleeding muscles and gratitude for opportunity was enough. Pride could follow later.
In off hours with or without twins Vinü or Cula, the men often found themselves sweating over weapon or vehicle repairs in Jax's machine shop accompanied by the clink of shared drink. No jokes were made to shame tender feelings. But voices grew steadily less brittle describing scenes of past days and souls encountered or trampled along lonely roads leading back here. The occasional tear went unseen but not unfelt, followed by hands clasping shoulders for different reasons unlike past times. Upon those sturdy benches deeper understandings were forged anew between weathered hearts thawed formerly hard.
With ample labor and wise counsel found among longtime companions, Jen's focus turned gradually toward bonding truly with inquisitive Aurora who never pried but observed nou with uncanny intuition. In her playful presence he felt shrouds of bitter years slowly unfurling. None could resist being drawn in by her aura of innocent wonder and lively compassion ever seeking novel possibility and adventure. Endless patience was given freely with eyes still untainted seeing fractured beauty worth preserving. Dappled sunlight ever beckoned them strolling down wooded paths or romping through meadows alive with their boundless energy and laughter. He was foolishly proud of her quick mastery running the obstacle courses he rigged using gravity manipulation to challenge her emerging physical talents. Nimble in both rate thought and stride at nearly eight years old, she took to vaulting acrobatically through floating rings or riding hovering platforms slaloming between trees. Crows sometimes applauded them from far limbs beyond gravity's flux. Over and through every hurdle at impossible angles she would cartwheel and tumble, pigtails streaming behind until landing smiling catlike before his amazed gaze. None could touch her except perhaps wind itself. But family ties tethered her loyalty, and nights would find Jen cradling Aurora on his lap as they surveyed the firmament's glittering empire while she babbled happily about their coming adventures together. He would smile into that curly locks' sweet scent, marvelling that someone so innocent and exuberant could share even a measure of his weary lineage. Deep roots tangent sustenance from stone to reach light unimagined. She was the best of her forbears melded flawlessly together, his guide now to undiscovered realms within. Pride was inadequate for such ineffable privilege. Better to be humble vessel receiving from her overflow.
But her sunny days could not eclipse all shadows haunting his spirit or ease those lying memories. However much forgiveness granted by others, Jen yet struggled privately with self-recrimination for the wasted years and suffering left ignored in pursuit of glory now ash. Atonement did not come instantly through simple confession of sins. Scouring guilt plagued sleepless nights while Aurora dreamed untroubled under same roof, leaving him rising red-eyed with first birds to seek solace moving meditation through another day unburdened by meaningless talk. Ongoing works gave his mind focus instead of brooding. Lofty heights now summoned through scaffolds instead of engines. Virility measured honest by the sweat and lives made more secure. No more the lone hungry coyote endlessly prowling hostile urban nights. Out here together bonds strengthened imperceptibly taught through shared grains. He planted orchards of fruit whose sweetness exceeded former sugar highs. Humble stakes were now worthwhile with daughter often laughing brightly by his side. But regret had left gnarled root deep. Pride now arose from watching her skill surpass his trials while still seeing intrinsic virtue maintained through every ordeal. If one pure soul could thrive thus, was not lasting hope kindled for even late redemption of the world-wearied? She roused his clenched fists from holding tight what mattered little for higher cooperation. Hours alone hauling stone or wood were penance burned clean at day's end. Still sleep held only fitful dreams too vivid while familiar eyes pierced veils to appraise efforts honestly. Easy comforts were decades away. But she beckoned each dawn regardless with innocent words and fearless gaze. Forward then without flinching from new sun's glare. Into dawn together again and uncounted days beyond.
Most evenings en familia were now spent around crackling hearths retelling old legends or sharing imaginative adventures conjured in youthful minds. With shining Aurora nested often snugly in his lap, Jen would regale her with grandiose serial space explorations among brightly hued worlds filled with quirky alien friends whose elaborate dialects and improbable hijinks kept her endlessly amused late into candlelit nights before sleep took its gradual hold. Her delighted laughter was balm to lingering regrets over formative seasons missed cradling such radiant potential. How many countless vistas they might have explored hand in hand before roads diverged irreconcilably. But her smiles revealed no rancor at that abandonment, no buried grudge needled tender moments with callous words. Better somehow this way - with time and trials to lend deeper substance engraving our travails between separation. Sweet by contrast present reunions with appreciation beyond erstwhile simple pleasures. They had earned through cold empty starless leagues this rekindled hearth fire now hosting light and joy long undeserved. What was loss but the proving ground for worthier treasures pain alone might excavate? He held her tighter still, banishing clinging echoes through her lilting voice describing worlds alive in her fancies. Tomorrow they would bring to life new tales with settings no shadows yet haunted. Books awaited them unwritten with so many vivid chapters ahead. No looking back anymore where ghosts held court. They pressed forward boldly chasing fast her twinkling heels, borne aloft by love and second chances waking gratitude exceeding bitter yesterdays. Together years and perspectives unfurled gently as lotus blooms floating their slowing boat across still waters smooth as glass while jasmine and warm spices scented the breeze trailing loving fingers through his and her tousled hair. This tender worship suffocated brooding demons still prowling the cranial basement uninvited. Lost years and opportunities mattered not now with so much ahead and innocence to guard rather than wrest or destroy. Her legacy was safe in his gnarled hands and committed heart devoted solely to nourishing the best in his daughter. Let tin futures tend themselves - this moment alone was inexhaustible wealth calling to bold dreams and selfless ambition. Fear nothing while she lay sheltered thus under familiar star quilt I have journeyed beyond and returned. We have only just begun the journey without end.
Not all could move on so easily as children. Old friends watched Jen from behind masks opaque and eyes laden with distance. Their openness had been tested once too often from impulses born of inner chaos once freely unleashed. Wariness persisted expecting the worst despite years proving labor's slower wisdom had finally taken root over adrenalized whims. He worked earnestly on without complaint or demands - trust takes time where wounds inflicted cut deep. But children knows only second chances and undeserved forgiveness. Weary parolees must simply walk through scorn or uttered doubt with shoulders back radiating hard-won confidence like armor inlaid with humility never known those thrill-chasing seasons when pride's fall reaped naught but a long barren harvest. What wisdom remained aglow in exile's crucible though long submerged under hungers indulged recklessly? Now tilling obedience showed nexus of patience and earned serenity from soil once deemed inhospitable. So he abided their distant welcome. Deep roots tangent sustenance from even stony hearts in time where effort flows freely without strings. Faith in himself again would follow timidly once new patterns set firm. He focused only on wrestling some good from fallow clay however late. Ten thousand points shall herald arrival eventually. For today enough work awaited steadily without heavy chatter. Just rain or shine persist fixing time's cracks firm. Uncounted todays becoming something harder won than juvenile victories. He needn't look up yet from the long furrow half done - skies once coveted vainly now recalled commitment to those under this roof yet counting on him. Noble dreams flowered from such small but earnest seeds unsung.