Shaxoa's Gift Read Online Free

but my body
craved nothing but Uriah, though a large part of my mind was still
screaming for Daniel. “Food sounds great, Mom,” I lied.
    Rubbing my arm briskly before standing up, my
mom waited for me to follow. Slowly I stood, taking a deep breath.
The worn wooden floorboards creaked softly as we crossed the living
room. I looked toward the kitchen and saw the familiar row of
pictures lining the low wall cabinet near the kitchen door.
    I saw my own face dotted among the many
family photos and felt Uriah’s lack of presence even stronger. One
photo in particular halted my steps. Uriah and I were posed between
his parents. Uriah’s father, Notah, had his big arm around my
shoulder and wore a pleasant smile. He had always treated me like I
was already part of his little family. I stared at the picture. It
looked perfect, exactly how life was meant to be. The doubt that
held me in its grasp had me wondering whether I would ever see my
happy ending.
    I looked away from the photo, turning back to
the living room and staring into the fire. The warmth from the
fireplace should have been much too hot for the late summer
afternoon, but I let it wrap around me. It was a poor substitute
for my sweet Uriah’s arms. My mom, who had stopped beside me, put
her arm around my shoulder and gently urged me to continue toward
the kitchen.
    Sliding into a chair at the smooth, butcher
block table, I ran my fingers along the edge of the wood. Uriah and
I had spent so many afternoons sitting at that table. Every inch
held memories of Uriah helping me with homework, us feeding each
other homemade snacks that didn’t always work out quite right, and
so many other beautiful hours spent together.
    “Here you are, Claire,” Sophia said, setting
a steaming bowl on the table in front of me. The thick soup smelled
delicious, but I could only dip the spoon in and out without ever
bringing it to my lips. It took several minutes before I realized
that my mother had left the room. Glancing around, I met Sophia’s
eyes without meaning to.
    Since waking, not one person had been able to
look at me without their face frowning with pity and sadness.
Sophia’s eyes were steady and serious. Holding my gaze, Sophia sat
down at the table across from me. For a long while, she said
nothing. The silence should have been uncomfortable, but Sophia
seemed to radiate strength and confidence. I sat quietly, praying I
could soak up even a portion of her ability to face a challenge
with such poise.
    “You’re stronger than you think you are,
Claire,” Sophia finally said.
    My eyebrows rose, questioning her assessment.
“I don’t feel strong. I feel like I’m about to collapse into a
miserable puddle of sludge.”
    Sophia smirked. “You look like you’re about
to collapse into a puddle of sludge.”
    I leaned forward, letting my hair fall over
my shoulders to hide my face. Sophia’s sure hand touched my chin
and lifted my head up so I was facing her again. “He’ll be back,
Claire. And when he comes back, he’ll find an even stronger Claire
than he left behind.”
    “But what if he doesn’t come back,” I asked.
Salty tears escaped from the corners of my eyes.
    Sophia’s smile was warm and comforting. “Do
you really believe Uriah would abandon you?”
    “No,” I said, “I don’t.”
    But he almost did, didn’t he? What had made
him change his mind?
    “Then don’t worry about it again,” Sophia
said. Sitting up straight, she reverted to her usual no-nonsense
manner. “Now, Uriah’s mother still needs help around the house. I
have other patients that need tending to, and if you’re going to be
staying here, I expect you to do your share.”
    “Of course,” I said quickly. “I’ll do
whatever she needs me to.”
    Uriah’s mother, Lina, was still mending after
being attacked by a starving mountain lion a few days earlier. The
damage would leave behind massive scars, but only a few days later
I had no doubt she was probably already speaking