Regret continued to fill Rowena’s mind as she realized how catastrophic the decision she had almost made was. She had almost taken not only her own life, but the life of the child she was carrying. Worst of all, she had almost broken the promise she had made to Ivan, leaving her with an overwhelming sense of guilt and forcing her to make a firm decision.
Rowena banished any thought of ending her life. She threw away the sadness that tempted her to give up. She would not allow herself to do that. Instead, that grief had ignited a new purpose within her.
Rowena’s purpose in life had shifted. Perhaps it was no longer for herself, but for the new life that depended on her. She would persevere, carry on despite the weight. That’s why she often reminded herself not to let the grief consume her. She could not allow the shadows of the past to brittle her heart. Instead, the memories of her time with Ivan had to strengthen her so that she could care for the child growing inside of her.
Just as the woman had said, Rowena realized that her grief would never completely disappear, her sense of loss would always remain, but she wouldn’t be trapped in mourning her fate. She decided to make peace with the situation, to carry both the grief and the loss without ignoring the fact that she had been happy all along.
Rowena had been happy once. There had been days when she had been the happiest woman in the world, and now, in the midst of her grief, she had to remember that happiness had once been hers. Ivan’s smile, their laughter together, and the warmth they had shared would never go away, even though Ivan was no longer by her side. All those memories would always be a part of her, inseparable for eternity, just like Ivan, who would always be half of her life. The other half was now claimed by her unborn child.
The center of Rowena’s world had shifted. Her pregnancy had created a new gravity that made everything in her life revolve around the baby in her womb. Every decision, every breath and every step she took was now tied to this new life, this little being she already loved with all her heart, even though they had not yet met.
“I’m sorry, my love. I almost hurt you. But don’t worry. I promise it will never happen again,” Rowena said softly, caressing her belly with love. A smile blossomed on her face, mirroring the flowers blooming in her heart. “From now on I will protect you as best I can. You have nothing to fear. You will grow strong and healthy, and you will see how beautiful this world is.” She took a deep breath and nodded once. “The world your father once lived in.”
Rowena began to learn to let go. She allowed the days to pass, although it was undeniable that she sometimes felt tired. She missed him, and sometimes the urge to curse fate would arise, trying to weaken the resolve she had made.
When that happened, there was nothing Rowena could do but cry about the situation. She tried to accept it all, had accepted it all, but that didn’t mean that all was well. The sadness still visited her often, and the only way she could distract herself was to retrace the traces of love Ivan had left behind.
Rowena walked slowly through the Amerotha forest. It felt as if she was following the eternal footsteps Ivan had once left there. Everything looked the same, everything felt the same, nothing had changed.
The Amerotha Forest had perfectly preserved every memory. The wind blowing, the leaves rustling, even the humidity in the air, everything was the same.
Rowena could feel it. The breeze that caressed her skin felt like Ivan’s loving touch. Its softness and calmness made her believe that it was really Ivan holding her in a warm, comforting embrace.
At the same time, the leaves carried a whisper that stirred Rowena’s soul. Their rustling sounded like sweet melodies, not unlike the loving poetry of a passionate poet. It reminded her of the day Ivan had confessed his love to her, and her world had changed in an instant.
Rowena could not hold on. She was too weak against the waves of happiness carried by flashes of the past. She allowed herself to drown, letting Ivan’s image seep into every empty corner of her heart. In the embrace of imagination and fantasy, the world around them seemed to stop, leaving only the two of them-separated from time and reality.
But suddenly, without warning, a chill engulfed Rowena. The biting air jolted every nerve in her body. She gasped, disoriented. All the warmth and peace that had enveloped her vanished in an instant. The illusion was gone and reality returned. She was still alone, without Ivan at her side.
Rowena smiled bitterly, but she steadied herself. She took a deep breath and raised her head. She looked at the full moon, the only thing that would always remind her of Ivan.
In truth, everything around her reminded Rowena of Ivan, but the full moon held a special place that nothing else could replace. It wasn’t just a symbol of Ivan’s identity, but also a silent witness to their love story.
Rowena found another reason to go on. Not only to protect the child growing inside her, but to live so she could see the full moon, at least the one next month.
Rowena’s smile became more peaceful. Then she raised a hand as if to reach for the full moon. “I’ll see you again next month,” she said happily to herself. “The three of us will be together again. I will invite her to meet you under the full moon. She-”
Her words stopped abruptly. She froze as a sudden thought flashed through her mind. The full moon reminded her of something.
“Full moon,” Rowena whispered softly, her face turning pale. Her eyes were unblinking, still staring at the moon, but there was a change in her gaze. “Full moon. The moon necklace. Oh God, the moon necklace.”
Rowena stood up quickly. Her steps were quick, almost running, had she not remembered that she was pregnant. She made her way to the house, and as soon as she arrived, she went straight to her room. She opened a closet and pulled out an old box with shaking hands.
Her heart was racing. Her breathing was uneven. Her mind was in turmoil, but the glimmer of hope that emerged managed to strengthen her resolve.
Rowena whispered a spell. Her hands swept over the old box and the seal protecting it began to crack. A faint golden-blue light seeped through the cracks in the magical seal, indicating that the spell had worked.
It took five seconds for the magic seal to shatter completely. The old box opened with a soft creaking sound. Cold air escaped, as if time itself had been trapped inside.
Rowena held her breath as the old box opened fully, and her eyes immediately fell on a necklace with a moon pendant. “The moon necklace.”
Rowena’s fingers hesitated as she reached for the moon necklace. But a moment later, her fingers tightened around the necklace with determination. She held it tightly to her chest, her eyes fixed on the ancient book in the old box.
Rowena bit her bottom lip. Her heart was filled with irrational hope. Tears welled up as she spoke. “We will meet again, Ivan. I promise. We will meet again and I won’t let you leave me. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I won’t let you die. I promise.”
*