I leave Tally and Grandma Miriam behind and start walking. With no particular destination in mind, I let my feet lead the way. At some point I walk up an incline, but I'm okay with this too. When I get to the top of the incline, I see a rock outcrop with vines growing over and around them. I've found my place of refuge. Sitting down, I put the box of treasures in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I open the box again. Inside are a set of wedding bands, a well-loved stuffed snake—of course, I would have a stuffed snake instead of a bear or rabbit. Snakes have always fascinated me.

The box also has photographs of me and my parents and other family members.

Picking each item up, I cry. Everything I've been holding inside bubbles up and out, and I scream towards the heavens.

Silently I sit for a while and a sense of being watched washes over me, although I don't sense danger. Odd. When I look up, a set of shadows has appeared near the few trees in the surrounding area. I stare at them for a while and even talk to them. A vine catches my attention, and I study it. I laugh at myself. Talking to shadows. When I look up again, I jump back because the shadows have moved closer.

A feeling of sadness and peace washes over me, and I wonder if these are ghosts or just figments of my imagination. One shadow looks like it is blowing me a kiss before both fade into nothing.

At the bottom of the box is a note:

Mi loba,

I wanted to be the one to write this note to you.

Not all of your parent's belongings are in this box.

There are several boxes kept safe at the Vault back in Akiva. I hope you remember what the Vault is. I didn't want to insult your intelligence if you did remember. If you don't remember, that's okay too; we've thrown plenty for you all to absorb and I know it can be overwhelming.

Some of the contents of the boxes are your mother's wedding dress, a quilt handed down through your mother's family and various other items we could save.

I'm sure it is a sad time for you right now, but I hope knowing that you have some pieces of your parents and your ancestors will give you some measure of comfort.

Until I see you next.

Te quiero

I hug the fold and place the note close to my heart before returning it to the box. I have found some peace. Some.

This rock outcrop has become my temporary resting place. The view is breathtaking. From this vantage point I can see out over a large section of the forest. Being from Texas I'm not sure about all of the trees that are within the woods, some remind me of the elm, oak and cypress that grew near my childhood home. Not knowing their names doesn't take away from their beauty.

The sun disappears behind the mountain peaks to the west. The light in the woods will dismiss quicker than up here, so I need to head back. Main problem is I don't even know how to get back, but I trust my feet to take me close enough that if I get lost someone can find me.

Some questions need answers but I'm not ready to ask anymore. There will come a time when I can listen to the stories of my parents and not sob and have anger but that day isn't today.

Somehow I make it to Tanner's Mudhole and know how to get to the cabin. Estel is surprisingly calm when I get back, and she just pulls me into a hug and tells me everything will be okay. She says it's okay to grieve and that grieving doesn't' make me a weak person. My head might agree with her, but I decided after Boyd that showing my emotions and being completely open to someone would only get me hurt. He was supposed to be my support for getting over my past and what happened to Pat. He just ended up betraying me.