Sky

The day did eventually come. I got a new delivery from Coulen. Standing in the lobby, I checked out with Adelphe who seemed all too eager to complete the task. The weeks didn’t soften her as much as I hoped.

Off to the side was Leonce, I shook his hand. “Thanks again for fixing up my jacket. Feels good as new!”

“You got my best work.” He patted me firmly on the shoulder, making me vibrate a little. He leaned in quietly to me. “Keep that brave spirit of yours. It’ll change more than a few minds on your journey. I have no doubt.”

I smiled back. “I’ll try my best. It’s a hard road out there.”

“You did good here, don’t doubt that, ‘kay?”

“Thanks!”

Leonce pulled back, giving me one last firm pat. “We’ll keep everything that we learned in the family. So travel free.”

“Your account with us has been closed,” Adelphe said to interrupt us. She joined alongside her husband. The slightly mellowed intensity stepped down a touch. Her eyes shifted away from me. “Thank you for saving Louise.” It was low nearly under her breath and sounded like she choked on it a little, but it came out. I could take a little progress.

“You have a wonderful home and town. Chaos notwithstanding, I enjoyed my time learning and seeing. Thank you for a warm hearth.” I delayed as long as I could, still not seeing Louise. She knew it was today, but I guess she was still upset over the reality.

It was a little sad not to see her smiling, energetic face as I walked away, but I had the memories. I could take that with me. I waved to them and began to turn to go through the threshold.

“Miss Val!”

“Louise?” I tilted a little in surprise back seeing her burst through pushing past her parents. She lunged at me to my dismay. It was a nearly full speed tackle sending me out onto the street. Thankfully, my clothes cushioned it, but still rattled me. “Louise…”

The little girl hugged onto my waist as I sheepishly looked back at her rushing parents. It took a few moments before she peeled herself back to look directly up at me. “Come back!”

“Louise dear, that’s not how it works,” Leonce said, trying to find a way to ease her down.

She shook her head, rocking me in her strength. “Promise me! I don’t care. Years, twenty, hundred, a million zillion, come back!”

“Well I…”

“Please! I won’t let you go if you don’t!”

Now her mother stepped in trying to pry Louise off me. “She can’t make that promise, she doesn’t get that choice.”

“I don’t care! I’ll wait! I don’t care!”

I swallowed roughly. She really needed it. I hated lying to her. But if it gave her a little piece of mind and hope. “Okay, I’ll return someday to see you Louise. Even if it's when I’ve finished being a Courier. I’ll make it back to you and share my stories with you. How’s that sound?”

She nodded repeatedly. With that, she released me and Adelphe could pick her up. “You promise.”

“Of course. I couldn’t break a promise with you, Louise.”

“And you’ll tell me about the sky!”

“I’ll tell you all about my favorite. When it’s a sweet red and full of dots of the rainbow everywhere you look.” I smiled and waved to her. With the final goodbyes, I could leave with a slightly lighter heart. I walked down the street. The distant calling from Louise faded to my back as I forced myself to keep going.

A new job was ahead and my car was fueled up for the road. Outside the artificial construction of the town, I turned up to the sky reminding myself of Louise. A small grin came over as it was the perfect weather. I loved autumn.