Pamuya - Together Again

This was written in spring of last year for one of my writing workshops and now that I’m working on my thesis, I’m thinking it needs to be cut. But I wanted to share with you all before I did that. Please leave a comment below (if you like) and subscribe to my newsletter (also if you like). Enjoy.

Annalee POV

When I woke up, I saw a dark blue ceiling, nearly black, covered in constellations. Around me were books on top books. Piles so high they could topple over from the sheer height. And in the midst of it, a small desk, with a lone lamp and papers strewn about. But other than that, the room was fairly neat. Soft, navy carpet covered the floor, a tidy row of white and black sneakers of varying brands, and of course the school issued loafers.

“You’re awake,” he snuck up.

I gasped but I didn’t know what to say.

Why am I suddenly so nervous?

“Didn’t mean to scare you,” he chuckled lightly to himself. “Here.” He handed me a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. “Take two.”

“Uh, thanks.” I nodded, then did as instructed, popping out two pills before chasing them with water. “Thank you.” I handed back the glass and the bottle.

He simply nodded.

We sat there in awkward silence (at least on my end). He seemed jittery, twiddling his thumbs together, as though he were trying to think of something to say. Guess I wasn’t the only one who was nervous.

“Listen Ayden, I--”

“Pamuya, I--”

We both fumbled simultaneously. I gestured for him to go first but he shook his head. I tucked a loose strain behind my ear. Just something to ease my nerves before I spoke.

“I go by Annalee now,” I told him.

“Oh.” He looked surprised. “I hadn’t thought to change my name. And no one ever seemed suspicious, so I just kept it.” He shrugged.

“Luckily Ayden is such a common name.”

Oh my god. Why would I think to say that? Just stop talking. No wait, he’ll think it’s weird. Say something else. But nothing stupid.

“I hadn’t changed it on purpose. That’s the name my dad gave me when I was born.”

Now you sound b****y. Just shut up.

I sighed and fell back dramatically on his bed.

He laughed, full and warm; a sound I hadn’t realized I missed until I heard it again. I sat up and gazed upon him for the first time it seemed.

He was tall. I could tell even while he was seated. Lean, muscular frame but not too lanky. He definitely proved he was built tough. Smooth, shiny dark hair that looked like it had hues of blue in it. Deep, sea blue eyes that pierced straight through to your soul and made you feel . . . alive.

I wondered what I looked like to him. A girl with clay colored skin, long, dark brown hair that probably had split ends, and a cerulean right eye, with the left other one being silver. A mortal, instead of the spirit he first met.

“What?” he finally broke through my thoughts.

“Nothing.” I shook my head. Then something occurred to me. “How were you able to reincarnate? I thought only spirits could do that.”

“I wasn’t aware non-spirits couldn’t. I just figured you had something to do with that,” he supplied.

“Unfortunately, I have very few memories of the life before this one. I have dreams or rather visions, I should say. But they only give me pieces to the puzzle.” I hugged my knees to my chest. “I wish I could tell you more. But as soon as I learn anything further, I’ll let you know.” I reassured him.

“Understandable. You didn’t seem to recognize me our first day at assembly. I stared at you the whole time, willing you to notice me, but you didn’t.”

“That’s because I didn’t see you our first day of school. And if I had, I probably would’ve been freaked out. Like I was today,” I retorted. Then added, “How come I haven’t seen you around campus before now?”

“We don’t have the same classes. I take Honors and I’m assuming you have the regular?” He arched an eyebrow towards me, but I didn’t care for the implication.

“You don’t have to put it like that.” I folded my arms over my chest.

He chuckled. “You always were testy. Couldn’t stand that I knew things you didn’t.”

“I did?”

He nodded a yes. “You loved learning new things. How fire worked, how to ride a horse, how to shoot a gun. You were so eager. It’s one of the many things I love about you.”

Love? Did I hear that correctly?

I deflected with, “How come you have all these memories and I don't?”

“I guess I’ve reincarnated so many times, each time, the memories stick a little easier. Not just from our time together, but from all my past lives.”

“How many times have you reincarnated?”

“About four times.” He turned away from me, and I could feel his sadness. “The first time, I couldn’t find you. And I searched and searched for you but you were nowhere. I couldn't even sense your presence at that point. I feared you were truly dead . . . so I  . . .”

I got up and placed my hand over his on the desk, squeezing lightly. He shifted his gaze towards me, then his body. Blue orbs searching mine, anguish etched across his face.

He took my face in his hands, thumbs padding gently on my sides.

“Ayden--”

“Each time, I combed every place we had been, every place I thought you might be. I even tried to locate the place in the ocean where you fell, but died each time. This last time, I lived to be 100, figuring it’ll be easier for you to find me if I weren’t dead. Yet as I drew my last breath, you weren’t there. And I thought then, I was never going to see you again. But then I felt you, felt your presence, your spirit I guess, and I followed you into assembly. I hadn’t planned on going but there you were. Finally, I found you.”

Tears were streaming down my face at this point. For centuries, he had been looking for, yearning for me, missing me, still loving me. And I couldn’t remember any of the things we had shared. But it didn’t matter now. This, this love was the reason I had forsaken my immortality, gone against Amek’s wishes and fell to the mortal world, breathing life back into this boy. I knew then, as I know now, we were meant to be. And nothing could sever this bond. Not time, and certainly not death.

So I did the only thing I could think of. I leaned forward, raising up on the balls of my feet, and kissed him. And he kissed me back. I was home.