Coming Home is Separation

[Elle Hartstone]

“Why are you leaving Mommy?” the fair-haired little girl asked through her tears as she clung to the legs of her mother.

“Shh, little one. All will be well,” the young woman spoke softly as she kissed the small child’s blonde waves. “You’re going to go to school and be a big brave girl for Mommy while she goes home and gets it ready for us.”

The woman, a tall slender figure dressed in faded black clothing with a travelling cloak slung over her shoulders, looked pained as she gently removed her daughter’s clinging arms from her legs. The thought of separation from her only child weighed down her mind and was reflected by the slump of her shoulders.

“I don’t wanna go to school! I wanna stay in the bakery with you! I wanna come with you!” the child cried pitifully as she struggled to retain her grip.

“I know baby, but the bakery’s not home. I have to go home little one, and it’s not safe for you there,” she explained to the little girl with watery eyes, getting down on her knees to look at the tiny child face to face. “You’ll be safe with Madame Bettifer here in Salkamar. You’ll learn so much, and you’ll make Mommy so proud of you, won’t you Eri?”

“Yes, Mommy,” she sniffed as she rubbed her teary eyes with chubby hands.

The woman kissed the girl’s cheek and asked, “Will you be a good girl for Madame Bettifer?”

“Yes, Mommy.”

“That’s my girl. I love you little one, and I always will.”

“I love you too Mommy,” the child said before snuggling in for one last hug, shutting her golden eyes tightly. The woman clutched little Eri to her chest desperately as a tear leaked out of her one good eye.

After releasing Eri, the woman stood and motioned to the elderly woman who had been standing on the other side of the dock from where the small family had said their goodbyes. The kind-looking woman approached and reached out for the girl’s hand, which was timidly given to her.

“Thank you again, Madame, for accepting her into your school. Gobaith is not always the safest place for adults, and I couldn’t live with myself if I put my seven year old in danger by taking her there.”

The young woman smiled stoically at the other. Her hood fell back with a gust of wind exposing her face to the world. It was a young, simple face, bearing some signs of stress, but nothing permanently detracting from its beauty. The most unique part of it was the glimmering of her right eye which was just a little too unnaturally green compared to the left. She brushed her wavy brown hair out of her eyes as the wind tried to take hold of it and sighed deeply.

“Of course Madame Hartstone. I’m just worried that such a separation will be detrimental both to the child, and to you dear.”

“Please call me Elle. I feel old enough already with a daughter in school. And believe me, I’ve thought about this long and hard. I’ve been out of my world for too long. I belong to Gobaith, and coming to Salkamar was more of a mistake than a choice. I need to go back before I lose myself completely. I..I just can’t take Erilyn back there yet until I get a feel for the climate. There have been wars and crises there before, and I don’t want to walk in blind. She’ll be safe here at your school, and I know it will benefit her in the long run. “

Madame Bettifer clicked her tongue uncertainly. “And you’re so sure you want to return?”

“I have to,” Elle responded with a sigh. “I’m not myself unless I’m in Gobaith.”

“Then go, dear, and be safe. I’ll keep watch on little Erilyn Hartstone for you.”

“Vian. Her father’s name was Vian, and so is hers,” Elle corrected matter-of-factly.

Madame Bettifer hesitated before nodding in acceptance and replying, “Little Erilyn Vian then, will be safe and sound with me.”

“ALL ABOARD FOR GOBAITH!” a shout came from the small sailing vessel docked next to the group.

Elle pulled up her hood and kissed Erilyn one last time before grabbing her bags and waving. “Thank you again. I love you Erilyn. I promise I’ll send a dove as soon as I’m there.”

Without another word, Elle climbed the deck into the ship and dropped her bags before waving one last time. The ship departed, and Elle watched as her little girl got smaller and smaller before finally disappearing from her sight. She turned and felt her heartstrings wrench.

“Gobaith..I’m coming home.”