Burning Embers Part 12 by Stacy L.

Burning Embers Part 12

By: Stacy L.

AND NOW I’M FOUND

Coming Full Circle

Several Years Later…

Jack slowly, hesitantly approached the door. He raised his hand to knock but held back, so many doubts ran through him, doubts, fears, uncertainties…

What was he doing here? Was he crazy? This was ridiculous. He shouldn’t have come. He should have never come. He turned and saw the one who owned his heart nod before softly urging, “Go on Jack. What have you got to lose?”

He opened his mouth wanting to say everything but found he couldn’t. Instead he gazed at the one now beside him so strong and so determined. He had suffered much, sacrificed much, nearly sacrificed himself and he was asking him what did he have to lose?

Shaking his head he whispered, “Nothing,” and raised his hand to knock again. Fear shot through him but as a warm strong hand wrapped firmly, securely around his own he felt the strength to knock and did. The smile he received in response was so big it stole his breath, and he found himself again staring in awe at the man by his side so focused on him that he didn’t hear the door open until a soft shocked voice interrupted with, “Jack, is it really you?”

When he turned he saw such hope, such sadness in those aged eyes and felt his heart ache as he managed, “Yes mom. I’ve come home.”

She released an inarticulate sound before throwing her arms around him.

Daniel stood back watching the scene giving Jack his moment his free hand firmly wrapped around the necklace that belonged to his own mother and cast a gaze above as he whispered a quiet “thank you” to the heavens.

It was then that the elderly woman turned to him and asked, “And who is this, Jack?”

Daniel felt momentary fear piercing his heart as he looked at Jack who turned and smiled at him before gently pulling him close saying, “This is the man who owns my heart.”

She looked at him as if assessing him, and he stumbled over the words he spoke, “Mrs. O’Neill, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

She gazed at him, staring intently at him, searching his eyes and finding the truth in them, watching as her son pulled him closer and held him tightly. She also noticed that he gripped a necklace tightly in his left hand and on one of those fingers was a golden band. Her smile grew as she realized the significance of that simple observation and focused solely on the young man by her son’s side as she said, “Welcome to the O’Neill family…”

Jack supplied his name, “Daniel,” and she pulled him into her arms hugging him tightly as she managed, “You brought him to me, didn’t you?”

“I helped a little yes.”

“Of course you did for I sense that you possess a gentle soul…”

Tears pierced his eyes then as he found he could only nod too choked up by her words to say anything. When she drew away Jack was there smiling brightly and drew Daniel against him whispering, “I told you she’d like you.”

Daniel only nodded caught off guard as she said, “Well come in, come in.”

They did and she turned to enter her living room. Jack and Daniel followed pausing in the entryway watching as she approached a small altar before carefully lighting one candle then another. Daniel, confused by the gesture, looked at Jack asking quietly, “What’s she doing?”

Turning back she smiled as she answered, “Lighting a candle for each of my sons, Daniel, for one has returned and I have gained another.”

Daniel could only stare at the small table in response to that. He noticed then that the table itself contained several candles sitting before a family portrait and several other pictures of her children and their families. He tensed when she moved several of the pictures to open up more space and cocked his head in confusion before she smiled at him again and informed, “There, now there’s a place right here for you Daniel and one for your family portrait.”

Unable to think of what to say he managed an awkward, “But my parents are dead…” that had Mrs. O’Neill offering him that kind smile of hers before she continued, “A portrait of you and your new family Daniel.”

“What?”

Jack smiled answering, “She means a portrait of you and I together, Daniel.”

“But…”

Approaching the two she placed a hand on each before informing, “I saw the ring, Daniel. The band that binds you to my son for better or worse, for richer or poorer…”

Jack continued, “In sickness and in health til’ death do us part…”

As understanding dawned on Daniel’s face Jack turned to his mother and said, “We had a private ceremony. Daniel isn’t one for extravagance. It was he and I, his grandfather, a close friend of his and the preacher.”

“I know it was a lovely ceremony, Jack, and I can see how much you love him. I’m very happy for you.”

Lowering his head as he blushed he managed a soft, “Thank you, mom, and I’m sorry. Sorry for not coming back sooner.”

“Hush now all that matters is that you came back, Jack, that’s all that matters to me.”

Attaining a Place in Satyaloka

My life has changed so dramatically in such a short time. My life as Mara’s prized servant is now at its end and MY life is now just beginning. I have lived many years and have experienced much in that time. Never have I believed that I would ever live for anyone but My Master. Now…? Now I live for Jack, for his mother, for Narayana, for my grandfather…now I live for ME and it’s a scary road that now lies before me.

I have no idea where this path will take me, but no longer am I hindered or dragged along by another. No longer am I wrapped in invisible chains and forced to return to my “rightful” place. No longer am I in service to a master. Now the path I wander is full of doubts and fears but this time? This time I’m being guided down it of my own free will, led by the love of another, wrapped safely in his arms as he walks the path with me. In the end I suppose I have reached my own sort of Nirvana, for I have journeyed through Triloka, the three worlds of heaven, earth and hell and have surfaced the victor.

My life now lays before me unseen. I don’t know where this path will lead, but I do know it will be some place wonderful for I have been gifted the love of another. I never had any plans to fall in love and never allowed myself to want for such a thing. I didn’t believe I was entitled to it, but fate apparently had other ideas.

And as Jack once said:

“So it would seem that even a slave is free to love another.”

** The End **

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