Sky Full of Butterflies

          ”I suppose you wish to tell your mother then?”
          ”Please” she said, asking his permission.  She bit her lip, hoping he would say yes.  
          ”In the morning.”
          She hugged him tightly and retreated to her room.  She hadn’t slept for days and was starting to tire.  As she slid under the covers of her bed she imagined her mother’s reaction to her news.  She could only hope that it would not upset her.  Of all people, it was Alia who struggled most with the realities of Reixa’s life.  The rate at which Reixa was growing saddened Alia beyond belief; news of her daughter’s relationship could only make that grief worse. 
          After only a few hours sleep, Reixa woke early, determined to be ready for her mother before she woke.  When she emerged from her room, Larius was still sitting in the same chair as the night before, still reading the same book.  Together they waited, in silence, for Alia to wake and greet them.  
          The moment she saw her united and her daughter, sitting together, waiting, Alia knew something was wrong.  She eased herself into a chair, waiting for one of them to speak.  Reixa looked to her father, waiting for his permission to go ahead.  After a moment he nodded; she knew it was time to speak up.  
          ”Mother?” she said, walking towards Alia, taking her hand as she knelt to her level.  “I’ve met someone.”  Alia nodded, softly, inviting Reixa to continue.  “His name is Faust.  His parents own a tavern in the human sector.”  She waited in Alia’s silence, for something, anything.
          ”Garvey and Merrida?  I know them well.”  Reixa took this to be a good sign.  
          ”He means a lot to me.”  
          “Do you love him?” Alia squeezed her daughter’s hand.
          ”I do” Reixa nodded, surprised at her mother’s easy acceptance.  
          ”And does he love you?”
          ”I think so.”  Reixa paused.  “I honestly think he does.”
          ”Then be happy Little One” she said, using the pet name she have given Reixa in her brief childhood. 
          ”Thank you mama” she smiled lovingly.  
          Silent tears slid down Alia’s cheeks.  The daughter she had loved for such a short time was growing up.  Soon she would no longer be able to call Reixa hers; she would belong to another.  With a soft finger Reixa wiped away her mother’s tears, her lips brushing her cheeks tenderly as she kissed her goodbye.  “I’ll always be here with you mama.  Just around the corner” she reassured.  “I’m still young, there’s time.  I’m not yet ready to leave.”  
          Reixa backed away, unable to watch Alia’s tears for another moment.  The love she felt for her mother, and the love she felt for Faust, both tore at the two sides of her heart, slowly ripping her apart.  Leaving her mother behind that moment, knowing that despite her joy Alia was hurting, Reixa felt her own tears spill.  But, the thought of Faust, waiting for her that evening, the way his face lit up as she came into view, it felt as though her stomach were a sky full of butterflies.  Despite her apparent age she still felt like a small child, and as the two feelings pulled her in different directions she knew she was not ready.  She needed time.
          Unable to shake the slightly numb feeling from her heart, Reixa slowly made her way up to the tower.  For the first time in many weeks she hoped for simple tasks; mundane jobs that she could complete without thinking.  Perhaps if she could just lose herself in the simplicity of her labours she could ignore the pain she felt inside.  
          However, it was not to be, and when she reached the top of the tower she found Nasiya surrounded by musical instruments, enough to comprise an orchestra.  Her task was to make them sing.  Closing her eyes, reaching out to the instruments she found the cello.  Delicately, she bowed out a slow lament.  Carefully adding in instrument by instrument she drew out her tune.  Gradually tears began to roll along the sides of her face, until they streamed, and the song was accompanied by her distraught sobs.  She swayed to the sound of the music, her shoulders heaving with the weight of her sorrows.  Nasiya backed away from the room, unable to see her student so distressed.  Reixa was alone, just her and the music, crying out in her grief.  
          The instruments clattered to the ground as Reixa felt an arm tighten around her pitching shoulders.  “Don’t cry little one” the smooth voice said to her.  “We’ll be alright.”  Reixa sank into her mothers arms, sobbing heavily.  
          ”Oh mama” she wept, “I don’t know what I should do.”
          Alia stoked the tears away from the side of her face.  “Shhh little one.  Let time take it’s course.”  And as Reixa’s tears dried out, Alia knew that it was time to let her go.  Despite her own pain, she could not make her daughter suffer.  It was time to let her butterfly free.