Chapter Twenty-Three #2
She admired the bird’s pink crown, her bright green feathers, and the sprained wing that the volunteers at the centre had lovingly healed back to health. What an amazing thing to have witnessed up close.
The bird took another hop forward, head tilted towards the sky, and then with a flap of her wings, she burst free, a rush of colour flashing through the air. Elation flowed through her.
Pinkie did it!
Faye stayed kneeling, hands loose in her lap, listening as the forest settled back into itself.
She scanned the canopy, searching for any sign of the bird, but she couldn’t see without her binoculars.
In the blink of an eye, that was goodbye.
She sucked in a breath, feeling stupid for feeling sad.
It wasn’t a sad thing at all. It meant a second chance, a new start; it meant life.
The heat returned. Her skin was sticky beneath her shirt, but her chest weighed lighter, as though something significant had been set right.
Carla whooped, the sound echoing through the trees. Riley laughed and joined in, cupping her hands around her mouth. Faye grinned and let out a loud cheer from deep in her chest, shaking loose whatever heaviness clung there.
The treetops rustled above them. They tipped their heads back in time to see a flash of green bombing from the leaves. Dozens of parakeets poured into the air, wings cutting through sunlight as they swept the top of the forest in perfect synchronicity.
Faye’s mouth fell open. She’d never seen so many all together. They cheered and clapped until they disappeared out of sight, the sound chasing the flock as they vanished beyond the trees.
Faye stood there smiling long after the birds were gone, her pulse racing—not with anxiety this time, but with something clean and bright.
Of course she needed goodbyes to move forward. Otherwise, she’d stay still, confined in a cage because she was too afraid to try. She wanted the new start, the regenerated version of Faye. She didn’t want to be scared anymore. What was the point? It was only her who suffered.
Something slid into place. She was going to do it!
After the Fire Ceremony tomorrow, Faye was going to be honest with Diana.
She didn’t want to take away from the significance of the ceremony; that would be wrong of her.
But afterwards, once they’d given their thanks and received their familiars, she was going to be brave and honest and say what she wanted.
Even if that meant saying goodbye for good.
But first, there was something else she needed to do.
* * *
Faye ran into the reception building. “Quin!” Quin’s eyes grew wide as she approached, but she didn’t slow down. “Come with me.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. Just…you need to come with me.”
“I can’t.” Their brows furrowed. “I have to ring my dad in five minutes.”
“Quin. Do you want to ring your dad?”
“I have to. It’s part of the rules.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
They looked at their phone in their hand and slowly shook their head.
“Then please, come with me. We can tell him a storm wiped out the Wi-Fi or something.”
“He’ll check the weather forecast.”
“Well then, a giant, clumsy parrot. Please. I really want to do this with you. And we have to do it now.”
They raised an eyebrow. “You look completely unhinged. Do you know that?” Then they grinned, reaching out a hand for Faye to pull them up. “Fine. You got me. What is it you want to show me so badly?”
Faye threaded her fingers through Quin’s, and they ran down to the beach, giggling like schoolchildren. They didn’t stop until they were at the water’s edge. The late sun was sinking, painting the waves with pink and orange streaks.
Faye kicked off her shoes, letting out a happy sigh as the sand sank between her toes.
“Is this the part where you sacrifice me?” Quin asked.
“Don’t tempt me.” She nudged them. “Shoes off, please.”
“Oh, I see. You’re trying to seduce me.” They laughed but did as she asked, slipping out of their worn Birkenstocks and into the grains glistening beneath their feet.
Faye took Quin’s hands, urging them to look at her.
New energy continued to surge through her veins, making her unafraid, and she needed to share it.
“Quin, you’re one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.
You make people smile without trying, even though I know you have your own shit to deal with.
You’ve been there for me, been the best wing-pal ever, and… I’m really going to miss you.”
“Girl, don’t you start. You’re going to have me ugly crying in a minute.”
Faye squeezed their hands. “You’re awesome, and I hate seeing the way you change whenever you speak to your dad. You shouldn’t make yourself small for anyone. You shouldn’t have to hide who you are.”
Their eyes glossed over, and they looked away. “It’s not that easy, Faye.”
Her heart squeezed. “Oh, Quin. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that someone who’s supposed to love you unconditionally lost the memo somewhere. But you can’t change who you are.”
“He’s my only family. I don’t have anyone else.”
“You have me.”
Tears spilt from their eyes then, and they wiped them on their arm.
Faye squeezed Quin’s hand again. “This might sound crazy. But when this course ends, come live with me. I’ve been wanting to move out again, but I’ve been too afraid. We can make a new start together.”
Their eyes flicked over Faye’s, searching for any crack in her expression. “You mean it?”
“Of course.”
They crushed her in a hug, knocking the breath from her, and spun her in circles. “Oh my god. This is going to be great. I’m going to be the best roomie ever, I promise. I make a mean veggie tortellini and—oh my god. We can have a Drew Barrymore marathon!”
Faye screamed as they continued to spin her, feeling dizzy when they finally put her back on the ground. “We have to mark it. Make it official.”
“Sure!” They held out their pinkie, but Faye shook her head.
In a swift movement, she pulled off her T-shirt and threw it on the sand, standing just in her bra.
Quin looked at her quizzically. “I hope you’re not wanting to consummate this agreement, because you know, as hot as you are, it’s purely friend vibes.”
“Shut up, you.” She nudged them. “It would be a sin not to have a swim in the Portuguese ocean before we leave. So what do you say?”
They hesitated, worry etching between their brows as they glanced around the beach. People were sunbathing in scattered groups across the sand, the water dotted with swimmers already enjoying the water. The white-tipped waves rolled back and forth, encouraging them deeper.
“Fuck it.” They tugged their T-shirt over their head, revealing a bare chest with two faint surgical scars.
“Yes!” Faye removed her shorts, exposing her bag, and double-checked it was still snugly attached. Her bags were waterproof, but making sure the seal was done properly was important.
When they were both standing in their underwear, the sun warm on their backs, she held out her hand for Quin to take.
“We’re saying goodbye to the island, but we’re also saying goodbye to all the shit that’s held us back. To everyone who’s judged us and looked at us like we’re freaks. We’re leaving it all behind.”
They nodded. “It doesn’t end here. It starts.”
“Exactly. On three?”
“Let’s just go!”
So, with loud screams, they set off running into the waves, water splashing their calves and thighs before they dove into the deep, their laughter ringing out across the beach. Faye lay back, letting the ocean buoy her, the setting sun lighting her vision.
She was ready. For the first time today, she meant it.
For the ceremony, for Diana, for life after this…
I’m ready.