Signs of Destiny

Rip Tide

"Don't be ashamed to weep; 'tis right to grieve. Tears are only water, and flowers, trees, and fruit cannot grow without water. But there must be sunlight also. A wounded heart will heal in time, and when it does, the memory and love of our lost ones is sealed inside to comfort us."

— Brian Jacques.

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They were friends.

Best friends.

They'd camp out in either of their back yards, and they'd always end up on the grass outside their little two person tent. She'd slip into his sleeping bag, and they'd count the stars until they fell asleep.

"Shawn," Camila whispered one night, laying in her backyard. Camila was eight and he was just a year older her, and even though he probably should have been hanging out with the guys in their grade, he'd always make time for Camila.

"Yeah?"

"We're best friends, right?" she asked innocently.

"Yeah," he answered, looking over at her.

"OK," she said simply. "Forever?"

"Forever," he echoed.

He held out his pinky, and she smiled as she looped her finger together with his. They each kissed the back of their thumbs - a real pinky promise, they'd always said - and they laughed together before looking back to the sky.

She fell asleep soon after, and he pulled the sleeping bag up to their chins. She was holding his hand between them, and he found himself frowning when she pulled it away.

They always woke with their backs to each other, and when Sinu or Alejandro came to get Camila, or Karen or Manuel went to get Shawn, they'd just smile and chuckle at the two kids.

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Childhood was a beautiful thing but Camila's was cut a bit short.

Tuesday was always Karen's day to pick the kids up from school. She had an extra staff member stay on Tuesday and Thursday, and Sinu got the kids on Monday and Friday. Sinu was in charge of Wednesday. Manuel Mendes covered any changes. It was a system that had been in place since they started school, and it worked well.

Usually.

Shawn had cut his hand on a rusty nail that was for some reason on the field, and in a panic, Karen had rushed him to the emergency room to have it tended to and given his tetanus shot - which she just hadn't gotten around to taking him for.