I heard a crack. I thought it was the window before I heard a voice that I had only heard once in my life and not again since.
“It’s very kind for Silver Miss and the Doppelganger to set the Boy from the Olive Tree free. He’s been fighting Death for days just waiting for the both of you to tell him he could go.”
“Hello, Lady Folia,” I whispered.
“He’s had a good life. The best kind and he’ll even have a fine death with the one he was born next to and the one he was meant to walk with at his side.” There was a long pause, “I know not much about the secrets of humans and of how they come and go, but I do know they share a magic with us called Love. It’s a strong magic, it comes from deep within the source of all creation. Because it’s so strong with him he takes it when he crosses through the veil. As well, because he has been so loved, he has even a gift when he arrives. Death has waiting for him the boon you lost so long ago. He’ll be with your Little Cara in a place where no touch can ever harm them.”
“Have peace, Silver Miss. What she says is true,” It was Lord Copse that spoke, “Death feels cold to the living, but to those he is receiving, he has gentle hands. Because of the magic of Love, when Death comes for you, you will find the boon Cara and he with her. In your time, Silver Miss. In your time, you will.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, “Thank you both.”
“There is no thanks needed,” Lady Folia’s voice was reflective, “It has been our great honour to have known a friend as fine as the Boy from the Olive Tree. His crossing the veil does not have the same meaning to us as to you. We will hear him in the whispers and see him on the winds, but even still like you, we will miss his presence in the wood.”
“In all the ages no one has been as loyal as he,” Lord Copse sounded so close I was sure he stood on the bed, “We must go now and prepare our lament, Silver Miss. Even we somehow must find a way to say goodbye.”
There was a crack and I knew they had gone.
Oliver was looking at me. His eyes were cloudy with illness and pain, dulled by medication, but for just a second they looked exactly the same as they had all those years ago when he was a boy making sure I wasn’t hurt after he hit me in the head with a rubber ball.
“It’s OK. Go now,” I leaned over him and I kissed him on his mouth, “I’ll stay with you. I’m not hurt or ticked off…I’m just fine…”
“You’re Just Silvia,” He whispered. His voice did not sound like his own except that it was so gentle, “And I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He pushed the button for more medicine to be released into his IV and closed his eyes. I felt his body relax.
I lay my head across his chest and held him for a long time. His ribs rose and fell in short, rattled, uneven breaths, but I didn’t let him go. I knew these were our last moments together in this life and I felt like I had the first time we had made love, like I wanted time to stop so we could stay right where we were together forever.
Hours later when the moon had finally left the sky and I could see light through the window, I felt him leave. It was a physical sensation, like a warm breeze washed over my whole body. I could smell clean earth and burning wood for just a second and then I knew he was gone. I closed my eyes and listened for his heart. Both it and I lay in silence.
Alexander felt him go, too. He stood straight up from the chair where he had been sleeping. His brown eyes were wide with realization, “He’s left us,” He said softly, leaning over his twin to be sure, “Boyo?” He placed his hand gently against his brother’s chest, “Oliver?”
There was no response. Oliver lay still. It was the first time I had seen real peace on his face since he’d become ill.
Alexander hung his head and released a low, suffering moan.
I left Oliver alone on the bed and I turned to his brother. “It’s just us,” I whispered, taking Alex into my arms, “It’s just you and me, Xander. He’s crossed the veil.”
“Oh, Sil!” He wailed. “Oh, God, Sil! What’ll we do without him?”
“We’ll get through it together,” I told him. It was all I could think to say and it seemed fitting. Alexander was really the only person who shared my shattered reality.
“The world’s ended!” He shook, “The whole world’s ended!”
Neither of us had the strength to stand. The anguish was too intense. We sank on to the floor, collapsed in each other’s arms, and we shared an emptiness that no one but the two of us could ever comprehend. When we began to cry I remembered what Warren had told me about what would happen if he started. I didn’t think that Alexander, Lucy or I could ever stop.
Alexander and I spent hours that day and many days and nights following together, holding on to each other like children. In our minds, we were the only two who really understood what it meant to have Oliver join the whispers. Sometimes for just a second we’d forget what had happened and one of us would smile or make a joke. Then we’d wonder where Oliver went and we’d miss his laughter. The loss would hit us again like a ton of bricks. I was certain for a time neither of us could survive. We were too old not to die from our broken hearts and yet we were each too stubborn to allow the other to quit living.
“There’s magic here, Sil,” Alexander sounded so much like Oliver it made me ache, “We can’t lose faith. My brother’d have none of that. I promised him. I swore to him I wouldn’t let anyone stop believing or allow anybody to give up. And I won’t. So get yourself out of that bed and let’s go walk down to the lake. We won’t do anything, mind you. My elbow’s old and tired and you could never skip a stone to save your soul. So we’ll just go there and sit around with Lucy and watch the sun shimmer off the water. We’ll think about better times.” He waited for me to move. I didn’t. “Come on, Silvia, I’m too fucking old to pick you up and carry you.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s Sunday.”
“So?”
“So? What do you know?” I sat up in my bed. I was angry and sad and annoyed that Alex didn’t know what Sunday meant, even though I knew there was no reason why he would. “Every Sunday since Warren left the wood Oliver and I make it a point to lie around all day and do nothing. When we were younger we’d make love all day long, have dinner and get right back into bed. When we got old, we’d nap and read and laugh together. Sundays in bed is a tradition! I don’t feel like breaking it to go standing around with you staring at a stupid pond!”
He had a look on his face like he was fixing for a row, but instead he kicked off his shoes, “Fine. Move over then,” He pulled up the blanket, “I’m tired anyway.”
“Get out of my bed, Alex!”
“Would you quit being so fucking bitchy?” He pulled the blankets over himself, “I’ve been trying my whole life to get into bed with you and you’re ruining it for me!”
“I’ll tell your wife!”
“Go ahead! She won’t care!”
“Lucy!” I called, “Your husband is in my bed!”
“He isn’t sexually assaulting you, is he?”
“No. He thinks he’s going to have a kip!”
“Well, that’s all right then, Sil.”
Alexander’s eyes were closed, but he was smiling, “See? I told you she doesn’t care.”
I turned my back to him. It was only a moment before his arm was around me. On the outside of the blanket, of course. “I miss him, too, Sil.” He whispered, “But I’m tired of crying.”
“I am, too, but I can’t stop,” I wiped my eyes on the sheet.
“I’m sorry,” Alex was so quiet I almost couldn’t hear him, “You know I love my wife. I love her with my whole heart, but I miss my brother. You’re the closest thing I have to him now. When you and I are together I feel like he’s here. I need you right now, Silvia. I need to be close to you. Lucy understands.”