only bit of peace he’d ever been able to find. But now, this morning, without any explanation at all, the anger, the sense of angst he’d lived with all his life was gone. He still had the niggling feeling that he needed to search for something, but his anger was gone. He took a deep breath and marveled at the difference down deep in his soul. He grinned — yeah, he knew without a doubt, he had a soul. All those idiots that had said he was worthless, he was soulless — they’d been wrong. No one could feel this at peace, this good, without one.
When he’d awakened this morning, he’d been exhilarated and rushed from the cemetery to the small halfway house he’d spent the last few years of his youth in. He’d knocked on the door, hoping the old woman who’d tried tirelessly to save him was still there. When she opened the door and squinted at him, he broke out into a bright smile.
“Thank you!” he’d shouted as he lifted her off her feet and swirled her around in a circle before putting her down again. “Thank you for believing in me when I wasn’t able to.”
She recognized him at once and hugged him to her, her hands old and wrinkled where they gripped his biceps. “You’re well, then?” she’d asked.
“I am. I’ll be just fine.”
“But your eyes! They’re green!”
“What?” he asked, glancing at his reflection in the mirrored glass on her front door. “I hadn’t noticed. Maybe they turned as I matured?”
“They were such a beautiful blue, but the green, wow!” the old woman said. “The green is so bright it practically glows!”
He took the woman’s hands in his. “I likely wouldn’t be here without you fighting for me. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You’re very welcome,” she said, smiling at him proudly.
But after he’d made things right with the only person who’d ever given him any effort at all, he knew there was one more thing he needed to do. And now he was back at the cemetery, on his way to thank Maman ‘Vangeline. He didn’t know how she’d done it, but she had.
He’d visited her grave regularly, asking her to help him find his way. And somehow she’d decided it was his turn and reached from her resting place to make it happen. So, he had to go thank her, too.
He turned down the path that led to her crypt and started walking. He wasn’t paying attention, his hands were tucked in his pockets, face turned up to the sky, enjoying the sun on his face as he made his way to Maman ‘Vangeline’s crypt when suddenly he was shoved backwards. He caught himself, and instinct had his hands flying out to also catch the woman that had bumped into him at a full run.
“Hey! You alright?” he asked, steadying her where she stood.
“I’m so sorry! I should have been watching where I was going!” she said, as she leaned over, picking up her purse.
“No problem. I wasn’t watching either.”
The woman finally looked up at him and froze, her eyes looking into his very soul.
He was lost in her eyes as well. They lured him in. “Hi,” he said, looking down at her
She smiled as she got to her feet. “Hi.”
“You come here often?” he asked, mentally chiding himself for the bar pickup line his brain had supplied him with to begin a conversation with her. He watched her, taking in her soft-brown skin, her long black lashes, her full, pouty lips, and the contrast of her bright blue eyes. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever laid eyes on.
She laughed lightly. “Actually, yes, I do. I was,” she pointed over her shoulder and looked at the crypt behind her before meeting his eyes again. “I, um…”
He raised his eyebrows, “Maman ‘Vangeline?” he asked, with a smirk on his face.
She seemed to deflate a little. “Well, yes. Actually, I was asking for a favor.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I was coming to thank her for one.”
Claire’s lips parted slightly in a surprised expression and she grinned. “Well, don’t let me stop you.” She stood to the side to allow him to pass on the path.
He inclined his head and walked by her. “Thanks,” he said. “I’ll just be a minute.” He walked right up to the crypt some fifteen feet away and laid his hands on the gate. He closed his eyes and his lips started moving as he murmured a private message to Maman.
Though reluctant