Chapter 22

The End...Or Is It?

Spindler reached for the Azurro, but Raven snatched it away.

"I think we deserve an actual goodbye before you go," Raven said, tears glistening on her face. "For Avery's sake and mine."

"Not to mention it'd be kind of weird for you to try interdimensional travel in the middle of a restaurant," I added. I chuckled a little, pretending to be happier than I was.

"Fine," Spindler said. The three of us went outside. By now, all eyes in the restaurant were on us, wondering what exactly that crystal was doing here. I ignored them and strutted out of the restaurant, again trying to portray a little more false confidence. I didn't want anyone to know how broken I was inside.

We found a large birch tree next to the restaurant, providing shade and a bit of privacy. Raven smiled halfheartedly, but I could tell she was heartbroken too. Spindler was just as good of a friend to her as he was to me. He was a good friend, I told myself. You never needed more than that.

Spindler sighed. "Sometimes I wish I could just stay here."

I could see why he thought that. I heard birds singing, just like an angel's choir. The grass still had a sprinkling of dew on it, and everything around me was green, a beautiful, splendid, bright green.

I inched closer to Spindler. "I wish you didn't have to go."

"Yes, but I must leave. My friends and family are waiting for me. But you both have been fantastic companions and I will miss you very much."

Raven gingerly handed Spindler the Azurro. I watched as the crystal slowly transferred from Raven to Spindler. The moment Spindler's fingers grazed the Azurro, he began to fade out of view.

"Goodbye, my friends," he said. Spindler began to smile as the bright blue light began to consume him. I waved and saw Spindler fade into the light.

The last thing I saw was Spindler's perfect smile blink into nothing.

I simply stood there for a second, unsure what to do now. Spindler was gone. Our quest was finished. All was well in the universe.

"What do we do now?" I asked.

"Well, the bus stop's right over there," Raven said. "Avery, I think we're going home."

I hugged Raven. "I can't believe we succeeded."

"Me neither," Raven mumbled. "But no time for celebrating. Our bus is coming."

I glanced away for a second, and noticed something lying in the grass. I wandered closer and found it to be a notebook. It was just like Raven's, except it was bright blue, just like the Azurro and Spindler's eyes.

"Raven, do you happen to have a writing utensil on you?" I asked.

"If you count a black Sharpie as a writing utensil, then yes," she replied.

"I'll take it," I said. Raven handed me her Sharpie and I started writing in the journal.

So here I am, writing with a black Sharpie in a bright blue journal. I'm not sure where I'm going or what's coming next. I don't know if I'll ever see Raven or Spindler again after today. But for now, I'm just going to savor the moment. My life is changed, and I think it's for the better. So when everything's meant to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.

The End