Lyssa stood quietly in the graveyard looking at the stone that marked a grave that contained no body. It was only meant to be a reminder of the person that was.
“I’m going to miss her,” Lyssa said as her dad wrapped his arm around her.
“Me too.” He tightened the squeeze he had on her shoulder as if something was going to come along and take her. “You know Lyssa, you were brave and way smarter than me.” He smiled at her. “I am very proud of you.”
Lyssa didn’t reply only let a tear roll down her cheek as she wrapped her arms around her dad as tight as she could.
Eli
Eli wanted to confront Lyssa, but couldn’t. He hadn’t said anything to her and only watched from a distance. Eli for now stayed at the Rebel Compound like everyone else, but he didn’t feel right here. Like something tugged at him to move on. Lyssa was now the only thing stopping him.
He followed her to the cemetery to Zoey’s marker. She stood for a while and finally when he gathered enough confidence, Thomas, her Etherling father, walked up beside her. He couldn’t tell her now.
Eli started to turn when he decided to watch for a moment. They hugged and tenderly talked to each other. He wanted to know Lyssa, the daughter he never knew, but then that would destroy what she had with Thomas, he couldn’t do that to her, he couldn’t break her heart. As far as Lyssa knew she had a father that loved and cared for her now. Maybe her loneliness that he felt in their uniting would be filled now.
Eli slowly turned and walked aimlessly into the forest.