Chapter 35
Rays of sunshine greeted them as they emerged from the canteen, reenergised.
They climbed back on board the coach, fully awake now.
This leg of their trip passed much more quickly, and they arrived at an official entrance point.
After parking up, they queued for a shuttle bus that ran on loop and took visitors to Eagle Point first, ten minutes away, where the Skywalk was located to allow people to discover the Grand Canyon West Rim.
The Skywalk was a large, glass, horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge that stuck out over the canyon, which was one mile deep.
Lili was glad she’d layered up, as the air had a crisp bite.
The bridge even had a glass bottom and was owned by the Hualapai Indian tribe.
They sold gifts nearby and performed traditional dances.
‘Talk about a panoramic view,’ said Lili as they stood near the edge of one viewing point, struck by how few railings there were around.
Her eyes scoured the ridges of black, brown and red rock, rising up from the canyon’s gorge, with the occasional patch of green plants.
Their guide pointed out the muddy river way down below.
The canyon’s vastness overwhelmed her, but in such a different way to the Strip, which was bustling and noisy.
The majestic canyon, solid, timeless, could withstand any act of nature, unlike the trail of glitzy hotels that looked transitory in comparison.
Lili tilted her head to the sky, as blue as ever, and then walked off on her own, joining the beginning of a trail, whilst Dylan took photos and spoke to another passenger.
Eventually, Lili found a quieter spot, higher up, following the instructions of signs to keep five feet away from the edge.
She stood for several minutes, breathless, not because of the exertion, but because of the surrounding magnificence.
The chat of tourists faded into the background, and she watched a bird of prey soar overhead before swooping down into the valley.
Lili had read a leaflet on the coach and it said that the Hopi Tribe believed that the Grand Canyon was the gateway to the afterlife.
For some reason, away from their cottage, away from Crystoffees and Colonel Mustard, Lili felt closer to Em here than she had since she died.
Standing here, in the face of such staggering beauty and simplicity, and a sense of being shown what really mattered, inside Lili an unfamiliar sense of peace grew at the thought that Em was now at one with nature.
A sense of… release.
‘I love you, Em,’ she whispered. ‘Always will. But… I’ve got to move on.
That doesn’t mean I’ll ever – ever – forget you, but I’m ready to commit to another person.
If I lose them too, it’s a risk I have to take.
The prospect of opening up to Dylan about how much I like him, about becoming invested in his life, about sharing hopes, dreams, worries, makes me feel like I did stepping onto that glass-bottomed Skywalk, waiting for the ground to give way and me to fall, fall, fall.
But I can’t let that fear control my life.
Even if I were to fall, like I did after losing you, Dad’s right – you being such a big part of my life was still totally worth it.
Thank you, Myrtle Turtle, for the gift of your friendship. ’
Tears ran down her cheeks. Dylan came over and started talking but stopped when he saw her face.
She looked at him. ‘Em,’ she choked. ‘I wish she could have stayed in my life for just another day. I’d have told her how much I loved her; how much I was going to miss her.
That…’ Her voice faltered. ‘I was sorry I didn’t insist on joining her at that party.
And I’d have made sure Em knew how special she was.
She lit up people’s lives without even realising it, always ready with her affectionate banter. ’
‘Oh, Lili…’ Dylan’s eyes filled. ‘I understand. I’d do anything to have another day with Harry.
I’d have told him he did the right thing by extending his trip.
That life is for living and for him that meant travelling.
I’d have made sure he knew how much his big brother admired and respected him, even though he hadn’t shown it, not at the end. ’
Lili looked out, across the canyon. ‘Do you think they know?’ she croaked. ‘Do you think they are here with us?’
Dylan wiped his face. ‘They’re probably rolling their eyes over the sentimentality.’
She caught his eye and the two of them smiled through tears before Dylan took Lili in his arms.