Dear Diary, as I stood near the tree that marks the edge of how far to leave the house, I couldn’t help but notice a pulling feeling, snaking around my middle like invisible hands, willing me to move forward, past my comfort zone.
In the months since arriving at my lonely little cottage, I’d come to some unpleasant conclusions.
I had a power that would not be contained and would not leave me alone. Yes, I controlled it, but the urge to use it was so overwhelming at times, I became ill.
And isn’t that why I secluded myself in the first place? To where I was afraid to leave my property at all?
It was that pull, that urge, that frightened me because I didn’t want to use it at all.
Yet there I was on the bridge, sweat trickling down my back while the humidity did things to my hair I hated.
It was only a few hours ago while it was still dark, and the tree frogs provided a constant background noise. I’d been lying in bed, listening, thinking about what my future held.
If I stayed here, it was safe, but I was not happy. No, as the endless nights of not sleeping proved, this life I was living was not sustainable. I might be an introvert, but that didn’t mean I didn’t need people at all.
What the hell-o-kitty was I doing with my life? Time was passing, slowing down for no one, and I was just hiding here like a coward.
Then this morning, I’d felt that sickening pull again around my middle. What did it mean?
The further I got from the protection of the little cottage, the better my stomach felt. What did it mean?
Taking a deep breath, I crossed the bridge and found myself near a delightful park. It was hot, but not such a bad day to sit there on one of the park benches, reading.
The feeling in my stomach never left, but it eased up quite a bit when I sat down and pulled my book out of the small backpack I was carrying. Maybe the power within me just wanted me to get out of the house for a while and enjoy a good read.
After a while, a thin waif of a child sat on the other end of the bench, watching the children playing on the swings. I’d never seen such a sad sight in all my life.
Glancing over at the child, I asked, “How are you?”
The child sighed heavily, then turned toward me.
I put my book down so it wouldn’t distract me from this moon-faced child.
“I want to play, but I can’t. So I come here to watch the other kids on the playground.”
“Why can’t you play?”
The child regarded me with large, pitifully sad eyes. “I’m not strong enough to play. I’m dying.”
My breath caught in my throat as I tried my best to hold back tears.
“I take pills that make my face fat, but they help me breathe. It’s cancer.”
I forced myself to take a deep breath around the growing lump in my throat. “Isn’t there anything that can be done?”
The child’s head shook no. “I don’t have long. I heard my mom and dad talking about it when they thought I was asleep in bed.”
How was this child so brave? I would be a mess if it were me going through this tragedy.
“I’m a girl, by the way. I wear this hat because my hair fell out. My eyebrows did, too.”
I knew chemotherapy could make a person’s hair fall out, but I’d never met anyone it had happened to before. My heart ached for this brave little girl.
“You’re a beautiful girl,” I whispered, barely able to speak around that lump in my throat.
She sighed loudly. “You don’t have to say that.”
“It’s true, sweetie.”
That was the end of our conversation, but I immediately sensed the power building up within me again.
Something deep inside beckoned me to concentrate on this little girl. She was brave in her suffering, and she didn’t deserve this fate life had thrown at her.
My stomach lurched as I felt my strange ability growing inside me, overwhelming my senses. From the very depths of my soul, I wished healing on this little girl.
Suddenly, she gasped, her little arms floating up into the air.
A little smile crossed my lips as I realized my powers had healed her.
Today, I went past the tree that marked the edge of how far I was comfortable leaving the little cottage. I met a very sick little girl and healed her.
My powers could bring me fame and fortune if that’s what I chose. But they were leading me to my destiny all along because they could also heal the sick and wounded, bringing me nothing but the inner joy of knowing what I did was for all the right reasons.
As I walked along the bridge that would take me back to the cottage, I knew I didn’t have to be afraid of my powers any longer. They’d been leading me all along to the sick little girl.
Now I had to leave this place so I could bring healing to those who were hurting.
It would be a good life, not full of fame and fortune, but of quietly knowing I made a positive difference.
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for the poses used in this chapter: Casual Sitting Poses, Child Sit, and the Amy Book Poses she made especially for this chapter.
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting!
Other Credits:
World: Winchester Farming Community
Lot: Anemone House
It’s like her powers could sense there was a person in need 😭 Beautiful.
Yes, exactly. I like how you put that. ❤️❤️
What a beautiful ending! I’m so glad that Amy has discovered her destiny and the most amazing way to channel her powers (which have built up over all these generations, perhaps) for both herself and the world. A fitting finale for a legacy full of grief, love, suffering, and wonder. It’s been epic following Noble Doubt from the very start to finish, even though I’ve lagged behind the last few years. A huge congratulations to finishing all 10 generations! ❤️
Thank you, Lila. I agree that the powers did build up over the generations. I never meant this to be any sort of supernatural story, but then when Mango disappeared, I had to change gears a little bit. lol
You were my very first comment, Lila. I will never forget that. ❤️❤️
Thank you again for your support. You were always there, and I appreciate it immensely.
Oh, that’s such a bittersweet ending! I’m glad she’s found a path to using her powers for the good of others, but it’s so sad actually seeing this phenomenal story come to an end. If it’s possible to be, I’m so proud of you for writing this and having the courage to share it and keep at it through the various waves life has thrown your way over the years.
Keep on being awesome!
Thank you, fluffy. Your words are so kind. ❤️
Hey, you keep on being awesome, too. I can’t wait to read about how your nanowrimo is going!
Sad and sweet. When I was about to break down in tears because of the little dying girl, the story took a turn that put a smile on my face!!!
Thank you so much, Jerry. I was so pleased to see you come up in the Reader the other day! It’s great to see you, my friend. 🙂
Such a beautiful, heartwarming story! And the illustrations are perfect. 👌
Thank you so much, Debbie. 🙂
I love this chapter so much!
Thank you so much, Jacquie!
What a satisfying ending, Kimber. I love the imagery of them sitting on the bench, separate, but together.
Thank you so much, Jacqui. I’m so glad you enjoyed this.
Thank you for sharing!!.. sometimes we have to follow our heart and leave safe harbor to discover ourselves, “It is not easy to find happiness within ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.” (Agnes Repplier ), glad that Amy found her happiness.. 🙂
Until we meet again..
May you always be blessed
with walls for the wind,
a roof for the rain,
a warm cup of tea by the fire,
laughter to cheer you,
those you love near you,
and all that your heart might desire.
(Irish Saying)
Thank you so much, Dutch. You are so right in what you say. 🙂
Lovely and heartwarming, Kymber! 💕🙂
Thank you so much, Harmony. 🙂 💕
Wow!
Thank you, Jo!
Oh, this is so beautiful! I’m kind of crying! Did you know it would go this way all along? The end ties into the title so beautifully, and it’s just lovely that the entire twisting tale led to this!
Thank you, Cathy. No, I didn’t know it would go this way. There were a lot of moments in game that changed my mind this way or that, for one thing. I originally was going to have Amy kind of absorbed by her power and become something even better, but when it got down to it, that would have been sort of like killing another heir and I didn’t have it in me. Whatever happened, I wanted Amy to be a positive influence in the world.
I think that’s perfect. She’s taken this amazing legacy of magic and power and brought it back to an underground goodness that feels right and normal, like coming home to the founder. Full circle of destiny, for good.
Beautifully said, Cathy. Thank you so much. xoxo
What a wonderful scene, Kymber. I love Amy’s epiphany and her new grasp of what she’s capable of.
Thank you so much, Diana. I’m so glad you love the way this ended for Amy. I’m announcing my new project tomorrow. 😀
How exciting!
Let’s hope it’s met with enthusiasm. LOL 😀
I’m looking forward to learning what’s next.
Thank you. Me, too. LOL ❤️
I agree with MMD, this was a lovely send off and I’m glad Amy gets a happy ending to this 10 gen family that seemed cursed. I’m also sorry you felt you had to end your story so abruptly. The plans we had for Amy would have been awesome to see. I look forward to your next venture and helping you bring that also to success. Well done!
Thank you, Bee. I think that would have been awesome, too, but I am glad we’re moving on. I can’t wait to begin LWR! 😀
This was the final farewell?! B-b-but…. NO!!! It can’t be over! Amy helping that little girl was perfect, but now we have to know what happened to her! Okay, maybe I want to know. Please say it’s not over!
I’m sorry, Hilly. 🙂 I’m glad you liked Amy helping the little girl. ND is over, but I’m announcing my new project tomorrow! I hope you will like it.
Did I read that last picture right? The end of Noble Doubt? That’s it?
I don’t even know what to say. If this is really the end, I’m glad that Amy found her purpose in life and that it ended on such a bright note. But also… oh my, I will miss your story. Very much.
I know that abrupt. It was for me, too, actually. I had worked this thing out where Amy sort of ends her generation being absorbed by her power but in a positive way. Sheesh that sounds so dumb when I write it out like that. LOL Trust me, it would have been good. But I didn’t want to kill another heir.
I’m glad you will miss ND, but I hope you will enjoy my next project which I’m announcing tomorrow.
I’m sure it would have been awesome! I had that thing where I promised myself none of my heirs would die by suicide or during that gen. Because NDIA was all about moving on from the bad things. So, I think the finale made a bigger impact this way. I think it would have been awesome with your writing and Bee’s poses! But I’m sure you were most excited about moving on ❤️
I’m sure I will! Can’t wait!
I’ll just never get over Dellie’s story. I loved all your heirs and how different they were because they were all so interesting. But Dellie was my favorite. 🙂 ❤️ I’m sad in a way that ND is over, but I’m happy, too. I can’t believe I wrote that story since 2016. lol I didn’t know I had it in me. haha
I’m so glad you liked Dellie as much ❤️ I always aspire to be as kind and supportive of my loved ones as he is. Doesn’t always go that well, though, lol. It was nice to keep him around as long as I did so he could meet his great-granddaughter.
Yes, I was so glad about that. It’s nice when the heir lasts so long that they can see their great-grandchildren. ❤️ It made sense that he saw them, seeing as how caring and loving he was toward the family.
Lovely, send off for Amy
Thank you so much, mama dragon. ❤️