In the early morning hours, when he was asleep, he heard the jingling of the door locks. Fearing he may have displeased his father, Jadi leapt from his bed and positioned himself beside it, his gaze fixed on the door in the darkness.
Olivia and Rocco entered abruptly, with an aura of eagerness.
“Therefore, baby, put on your shoes,” Olivia said, retrieving a little coat and a cap from her suitcase.
Fully awake, Jadi donned his shoes and the small coat.
“Mother, where are we proceeding?” He enquired, wiping his fatigued visage.
“We are going outside, my dear little boy,” she said, smiling as she cupped his cheeks and kissed his forehead.
His eyes expanded in astonishment and exhilaration, his vitality permeating the space.
“We must depart immediately before the remainder of the pack awakens,” Rocco urged, as Olivia lifted Jadi into her arms and covered him with a blanket.
They swiftly exited the house with minimal noise and proceeded to the concealed waterfall cabin located in the northern region of the pack territory. Thus, I remained fixed at the window, gazing at the vast universe illuminated by the dawn’s first light. Upon arrival, Rocco conducted a brief reconnaissance of the area, while Jadi’s anticipation heightened as they awaited his signal.
“Are you prepared, my handsome son?” Are you prepared to explore the world?Olivia enquired of him upon receiving confirmation that everything was clear.
She assisted Jadi in exiting the vehicle, his lungs inhaling the pristine woodland air for the first time. His small eyes flitted from one location to another, utterly astonished by the towering trees and the flowers that unfurled in response to the sun’s warmth on their petals. Rocco repositioned himself and stood adjacent to them as Olivia led him into the woods for a brief stroll. Jadi extended his hands to touch the new green leaves on the plants along the trail, astonished by their velvety smoothness and sharp edges. The distant chirping of birds initially terrified Jadi, but his mother guided him to a clearing where they could observe and hear several birds singing in the trees.
“Observe, a bird!” Jadi wept when witnessing a mother bird alighting on her nest. “A bird!” A bird!”
“Similar to those in your books,” his mother murmured, directing Rocco to arrange a modest picnic blanket for their repose. She removed his shoes to allow him to experience the damp earth beneath his feet, while Jadi wiggled his toes on a mound of leaves and laughed at the unusual sensation.
Olivia sat silently on the blanket, observing her kid as he jumped into the grass like a frog and gathered various flowers for her when a little butterfly suddenly flitted by.
“Mother!” Mother!Jadi shrieked, his eyes big as saucers, as he pursued it deeper into the jungle.
Olivia and Rocco after him and saw him seated beside a shrub, observing a butterfly as it opened and closed its wings while perched on a flower.
“What is it?” Jadi enquired, captivated by the numerous markings on the creature’s wings.
“It is a butterfly,” Olivia said, brushing his hair back. “It is recuperating following an extensive voyage.”
“Perhaps it requires water, Mother,” Jadi remarked, scanning the surroundings for a leaf to provide hydration.
He failed to locate a leaf as a big Moonlit Wolf emerged from the southern section of the forest, prompting Jadi to hastily seek refuge behind his mother.
“Noel,” Olivia exclaimed, her hand reflexively moving behind her to comfort her son.
Thus, the splendid inaugural dawn of liberation transformed into a nightmare.
.
..For numerous years, I observed with dismay as Noel belittled his son, and I understood that when I decided to speak out, I would need to exhibit fortitude for both of us.
Although I may irritate Jadi frequently, my sole objective is to ensure he never experiences the vulnerability of that terrified small kid again. We are currently liberated, and I plan to maintain this state.
The aroma of our companion’s approach extricates me from Jadi’s recollections, her footsteps gentle and subdued as she stealthily advances towards us. Jadi experiences anxiety in her company but relaxes when she encircles his waist and embraces him from behind. She reclines her head on his shoulder, inhaling serenely and remaining silent for a minute.
“I am not prepared to accept your mark at this moment,” she whispers, Jadi’s heart pulsating with optimism. “However, it is possible that…” One day, I shall be.
