So goes the Broken Childe

[Blackbird]

June 18^th, 2018

Within San Jose there exists a place called Kelley Park, which consists of 156 acres. Within this park is a walled, six-acre area named the Japanese Friendship Garden, an allotment designed to emulate the Korakuen Garden of Okayama. This was a favorite spot for Michel’s eldest childer, Nora Olhouser.

His little Blackbird.

It came as no surprise when he came across her here in some forgotten corner of the garden. He’d been looking for her since their argument, earlier in the evening. Following Chelsie’s Embrace. His little BB was normally so collected, but when Michel announced his intent to bring another into their ‘family’? She broke. And not in a small way. Nora had said horrible things and her pain as palpable enough for Michel to feel in his centuries-old heart.

And now there Blackbird lay, her white sundress staining in the grass that had been trimmed only hours earlier, her eyes vacantly looking to those few stars that pierced the city’s light pollution. He could see her face, mascara dried on her cheeks from her earlier grieving fury. Michel knew better than to speak at this moment, it was better to let her adjust to his presence. Even if his childe hadn’t noted his presence, she knew he was there. She was just too numb to speak.

After many long moments, Michel finally felt the time was right to speak. He looked up to the sky, looking to the same stars his childe did as he tucked his hands into his pockets.

“Waiting for the sun?”

BB’s response was somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. “You’re giving yourself too much credit.”

Levity. Bitter as it was in tone, Blackbird was trying to lighten the situation. After a moment, Michel laid down beside her. She didn’t move, of course, and she remained still even as Michel took her hand. Then there it was.

A squeeze.

“I’m still leaving.”

“I know.”

And then Blackbird curled into him. One final moment of solace before committing to a world unknown. It was painful for Michel too, but love lost was never easy. And Love was never easy for the Daeva. He only hoped Blackbird would rise above, even if it was in his absence.