The end of summer, age 8. My last living here.

All that is left is autumn and a few weeks of winter. After the winter solstice is over, and by extension this year, I'll be moving into the house in Bightkeep with Tony.

But it's still warm.

I gentle warmth, not like the hotness of summer, with the burning sun and the cooling breeze.

And today is an especially gentle day.

Which is why I choose this day to take Emelia to see the sunset.

"Are you ready?" [Nathan]

"Yes!" [Emelia]

She says, beaming with restless energy.

"You kids have fun now, but remember to be careful. And if you get tired, remember to come home right away okay Emelia?." [Alfred]

Alfred agreed to let me take her, but he sure isn't happy about it. In fact, it took me two weeks to convince him.

"Don't worry Dad, I'm fine." [Emelia]

"We're off, see you after nightfall." [Nathan]

"See you." [Alfred]

And so we are on our way, me pushing her wheelchair in front of me.

"So are you looking forward to seeing it?" [Nathan]

"Yep!" [Emelia]

"Good, good. It's a bit far, is there anything you want to talk about until we get there?" [Nathan]

"What happened at James's house?" [Emelia]

"Ah." [Nathan]

"You didn't think I would notice?" [Emelia]

"..." [Nathan]

I did not see this coming. How straightforward.

"..." [Nathan]

"Nathan?" [Emelia]

"First, what do you think about James?" [Nathan]

"Are you asking me if I know that he likes Sarah?" [Emelia]

".. Well.." [Nathan]

"Even my father noticed Nathan." [Emelia]

".. Alright then.. He, uhm.. He took something from Sarah's room." [Nathan]

"What? Why?" [Emelia]

"He wanted to make her a gift. He had been practicing woodcarving and he had some cut crystals that he polished. So he took something that he thought was pretty, so he could make something like it. Problem was-" [Nathan]

"He took Moms funeral vestige.." [Emelia]

"Yeah. He didn't know that's what it was, his parents hadn't explained what funeral vestiges are. He just thought it was a pretty trinket." [Nathan]

"So that's why Sarah was so depressed." [Emelia]

"I quietly gave it back to her, and told her that I found it in the bathroom laundry when I was looking for a towel." [Nathan]

"So she doesn't know?" [Emelia]

"Her and James were always close, I don't want to ruin that over a stupid mistake." [Nathan]

"I'm not sure that Tony is going to keep it secret. He's really mad." [Emelia]

"Yeah.. But I just think he needs to cool down." [Nathan]

We chatter back and forth while we walk. She's squirming in her seat a lot, a huge grin on her face.

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"Hey, wasn't this the path you told me about?" [Emelia]

"Hmm?" [Nathan]

"The one where you got your scars?" [Emelia]

"Ah, the boar attack." [Nathan]

"Yeah, wasn't that around here?" [Emelia]

"It was." [Nathan]

"What if we run into a boar?" [Emelia]

"Don't worry, they won't come near us as long as we stay on the path." [Nathan]

And even if they did, it won't be a problem. By now I can handle a boar just fine.

"Besides, we are almost there." [Nathan]

"But we're still inside the forest, we can't see the sunset from here?" [Emelia]

"Sure we can, I know just the spot." [Nathan]

Shortly after, we arrived. As I pushed her chair to the old tree where I saw the sunset with the group years ago, her eyes slowly opened wide.

She saw the pulleys and the robe, she was the deck in the top of the tree and she saw the platform sitting on the ground.

"This is the tree that we went to a few years ago. I had Graham help me with putting up a deck in the top of the crown, and a crane to get us up there with that platform."

"...." [Emelia]

"This is the best place I know for watching the sunset." [Nathan]

"You.. You made this, for me?.." [Emelia]

"Of course. It had to be here. You looked so excited when I told you about watching the sunset from here. I erm.. I wanted you to see that exact sunset." [Nathan]

"..." [Emelia]

"Now, I'll just push you onto the platform, and then I'll pull us up." [Nathan]

She nods quietly, and grips the handles on her wheelchair.

"Are you scared of heights?" [Nathan]

She doesn't move.

"You don't have to worry, I'm right here next to you.

As we got onto the platform, I started to pull us up by the robes. We slowly inched up from the ground, and I felt a slight tug on my sleeve.

Emelia had grabbed onto my sleeve.

"Don't worry, I'm right here." [Nathan]

"... This is the high- The highest I've been.." [Emelia]

She said just before a cool breeze made the platform swing, and her grip tighten.

"Emelia, look at me." [Nathan]

She turned her head, and stared at me. Anxiousness painted on her face, a hint of fear hidden in her eyes.

"I wouldn't do this if I wasn't absolutely certain that you would be safe." [Nathan]

Her grip loosened.

"Do you trust me?" [Nathan]

She nods slightly, still looking into my eyes.

I smile.

"I'm glad." [Nathan]

The lift continues upward, swaying slightly in the wind.

As we get to the top, she sees the small couch and duvet I prepared earlier.

"When I was here with the group we sat on the branches. This time I wanted it to be a bit more comfortable." [Nathan]

Walking onto the deck, I turn around and reach my out my hand to her.

She takes it and I help her get up from the wheelchair.

"The sun is almost at the horizon. Get comfortable, the sunset is going to last a while." [Nathan]

She sits down. Hugging her knees, with the duvet around her.

"How do you like the view?" [Nathan]

".. It's really high." [Emelia]

"Don't worry, I had Graham jump around on the deck, it's more than sturdy enough." [Nathan]

She nods slowly; Clearly nervous about the situation.

I sit down next to her.

"Is there room for me under the duvet?" [Nathan]

She opens the duvet, and I wrap it around us.

We sit in silence for a few minutes, as the sun creeps closer to the horizon.

".. I thought you would just take me to a place where we could see the horizon. I- I didn't expect this.." [Emelia]

"Do you not like it?" [Emelia]

She shakes her head.

"That's not it.." [Emelia]

"Then what?" [Nathan]

".. Why did you do this for me?" [Emelia]

I lean back and look at the clouds above the sun.

".. Do you remember a conversation we had a year ago?" [Nathan]

".. No? I don't think so." [Emelia]

"We talked about when i went here with the group. I said I would rather have been without. Because of how it ended. You said I should cherish those memories, even if they are painful. Because you never had any. Because you could never have any.

When I tried to console you, to tell you that you might become well enough to walk, to have memories of your own...

The look on your face. I couldn't stomach it. I still can't." [Nathan]

Turning my head, I look into her eyes.

"I want you to have memories Emelia. I want you to have experiences, to see wonders and miracles. This world is full of them, stunning beauty and creatures that boggles the mind." [Nathan]

I put on a gentle smile.

"I wanted to show you. That's why I brought you here. To show you this view, to give you this memory." [Nathan]

Twisting around, I pull something out from behind the couch.

"I even brought my guitar. To play for you, as we watched the sun go down." [Nathan]

With a deep breath, i sigh.

"But if it's too much, I can take you back home." [Nathan]

With a gentle, understanding smile, I look at her.

" It's alright. I went too far." [Nathan]

Saddened, she looks down and messes with the hem of her dress.

Slowly, she shakes her head.

"No. No I want to stay.." [Emelia]

"Are you sure?" [Nathan]

She nods her head a few times, still looking down.

I smile.

"Good. Do you want me to put the guitar away?" [Nathan]

".. No. You can play if you want.." [Emelia]

"Alright. Then I will." [Nathan]

I get comfortable, and gently strum a tune.

The sun goes down, and she sits in silence and listens to the music. As stars twinkle into existence, and the sun dyes the sky as through rose colored glasses from beyond the horizon, I restrum the guitar and quietly break into song.

``When, i sit under the stars.

They heal my ragged scars.

I feel the love aro~und me.

If, I feel a world apart.

My heart, they do impart.

A love, given so free~ly.

When, the world is cold and dark.

I'm guided by their mark.

A light, so kind and true.

And when I fall, they're the first thing I see.

Slowly get up, and they whisper this to~ me.

We stand watch, over the sea.

Our love, will always be.

Gi~ven~free~ly."

The song is finished, and the sky darkens. The stars weave a carpet across the heavens, and two moons glow as they wander across the sky.

"You can see the mana flies now. Do you want to stay here, where we can see the stars, or do you want to go home? We can see the mana flies on the way." [Nathan]

".. We can stay a little longer.." [Emelia]

She says as she fiddles with her dress again.

I smile.

She's so cute.

"Alright, then I'll play a little more." [Nathan]

We sit there, quietly watching the stars a little more.

Just a little more.