Chapter 33
Together
It’s hard to describe my emotions as I saw the outlines of the Fernwood Resort appear in the distance. Whatever relief I felt was bittersweet, for soon I would need to depart from Virginia and leave my Vasilisa.
“Look, look!” Harry turned back to face Lisa and me, his mane blowing in the wind. The little humpbacked horse looked spectacular.
“What is it, Harry?”
“The flowers,” Harry neighed, pointing toward the resort. “They bloomed.” I followed his gaze and noticed that the flowerbeds surrounding Fernwood were blossoming with a sea of pink and red. Not only that, but the bushes lining the resort paths were now covered with pretty flowers as well.
“Those are the azaleas,” Lisa said. “My favorite flower.”
“Azalea,” I repeated, savoring the word.
“They are the flower of hope and resurrection,” Lisa noted, grabbing Harry’s back tightly, as the pony had started his descent toward the resort.
“I hope no one sees us,” he exclaimed. “I’m going to try to land behind the main entrance, closer to the stables.”
“Don’t worry, Harry,” I screamed as he paddled his feet in the air, the ground getting closer and closer. Harry dived straight down and delivered what was the roughest landing since we’d started flying together. Lisa and I had nearly tumbled over, but I caught her in my arms, preventing a fall.
“Oh, Ivan,” she whimpered. I kissed her sweet face.
“Come on, you two,” Harry groaned, straightening up. “I’ve got to return to the stables.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Lisa said. “And I have to teach a class tonight.”
“You do?” I stared at her in confusion. “I thought we could spend some time together.”
“I’m on the schedule.” She shook her head. “I can’t cancel at the last minute.”
She reached for her phone and checked the time. I remembered how, when I’d first seen her do it, how strange it seemed that Lisa needed to look at a black object rather than the sky to tell the time of day.
I adjusted my backpack and picked up Lisa’s, preparing to carry them to her apartment.
“I’ll see you guys later,” Harry neighed.
“’Bye, Harry, thank you for everything.” Lisa hugged the pony. “I’ll try to visit you tonight, all right? I’m going to stop by the co-op and get you some fresh carrots.”
“Thank you, Lisa,” Harry responded gratefully.
He moved his ears the way he always did when he was anxious, and I suspected it was the prospect of facing the other horses at the stables that worried him.
“’Bye, Harry,” I said, and followed Lisa down the garden path back to her quarters.
“How lovely this is, Vanya,” Lisa said, pointing to the flowers. The Fernwood garden was a sight to behold. A sea of pink, pale red, rose and almost white petals.
“It really is,” I said, reaching for her hand, but she pulled hers away.
“Not here,” Lisa said. “I don’t want anyone to see us.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re leaving soon, and then I don’t even know what to tell people. Like, do I tell them my boyfriend lives in a parallel reality? They will think I’m crazy.”
“Why don’t you tell everyone you have a— What was it?” I frowned, trying to remember the expression Lisa had used.
“A long-distance relationship?” Her voice quivered as she said this. We’d reached the door to her apartment, and I held it open for her.
“Yes, long distance. That’s it.”
Lisa and I walked into the apartment, and I placed our bags by the entrance.
“Listen, I’ll go get ready for class.” She averted her eyes.
“But you’re already dressed for class,” I noted, pointing to her outfit, her usual leggings and yoga top.
“I gotta make sure I look all right.” Lisa gave me a coy smile, and my heart melted.
“You always look beautiful, my love. But sure. I’ll just wait over here while you do that.” I took a seat at the kitchen table, cupping my face with my hands.
“Oh, Vanya, please don’t be sad. I love you.” Lisa rushed to peck me on the cheek, then fluttered away, disappearing into her bedroom.
“I love you, too,” I responded absent-mindedly.
I sat for a few moments in contemplation and then remembered the two magical objects I had in my pocket. I took out the feather and the silver mirror and put them on the table next to each other.
The feather, which had changed my whole life. Its soft glow comforted me, as usual. Soon it would go back to the Firebird, which always came back for its feather, but then I’d make one wish.
Then, I picked up the mirror and looked at my reflection.
Just like last time, I saw myself wearing the clothes from Zorya, but something was off.
My shirt was dirty, covered with stains, the red sash ripped up.
My hair was undone. It was much longer, almost to my shoulders, and lay in clumps.
My face was covered in stubble, as if I hadn’t shaved in weeks.
And then I saw my eyes and almost screamed in horror.
They were the eyes of a desperate man, full of sadness and pain.
“No!” I yelled, slamming the mirror on the table.
“What is it?” Lisa ran out of her bedroom. She’d changed her top to a bright-pink one. “Are you all right?”
“I was just practicing with the mirror,” I responded. I didn’t want to worry Lisa for nothing.
“Can you show me?” Lisa picked up the mirror, running her finger along its edge. “Oh, look, I see myself,” she mumbled, looking at her reflection. I leaned over her shoulder and saw her sitting cross-legged in the middle of a circular yoga studio.
“I think that’s you at the Seven Birches,” I said, staring at Lisa’s reflection. Her hair was long and had been pulled back in a bun. Her hands were in a prayer position in front of her chest, and her eyes were closed. “Omm,” the Lisa in the mirror sang out.
“Oh, yes, I guess so. Is it a vision from the future? Is this what it is?” Lisa looked at her reflection. “So, where’s yours? What do you look like in the future? I wanna see!”
“Oh, it’s just me in Zorya,” I responded, doing my best to keep my voice even. “Listen, let me walk you to the studio. I can make tea for your class, like before.”
“Thank you, that would be lovely.”
I flipped the mirror over and set it on the table, covering its reflective side. Then I picked up the feather and stuffed it back into my pocket.
The mirror had just shown me a glimpse of my future, and I knew if Lisa ever found out about it, she would never let me leave for Zorya.