The Year's Best Fantasy by Paula Guran

Author:Paula Guran
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Year’s Best Fantasy Volume Two
Publisher: Pyr
Published: 2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

She touched her scarf, adjusting it around her neck. “I know it wasn’t easy having a human mom. I wasn’t able to teach you magic or help you grow in it. And you always felt you had to protect me. Know why I disappeared? It was to get you out of this house. Out of this routine. Something good might happen.”

Mik sighed. “Mom, I don’t want—”

“I know you don’t. But you got to. You gotta find yourself a life outside of working a job you tolerate and caring for a mother you think isn’t all there.”

“I don’t think you’re not all there,” Mik lied, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “Besides, I have a life.”

“Uh huh.” Her mother folded her arms across her chest and fixed her with that look only parents seem to be able to perfect. “Ayo went home to her wife, and Shavon to all those homeless babies the Mammy Watah gals love to raise up. What do you have? Me.”

Mik opened her mouth, closed it. She stalked across the room, threw her purse on the couch before responding. “So what? What else do you think I need? A husband, kids or else I’m not really a woman?”

“I never said you needed any of that. Just something else to dedicate yourself to. To fulfill your heat and spirit.” Her gaze softened and she opened her arms. Mik gratefully went into them.

“You’ve been looking after me a long time,” Mama said as she rubbed Mik’s back. “Since you were a little girl. I’m sorry I put that burden on you so young. I don’t even remember when it changed from me watching you to the opposite. But it’s time now.”

Mik clung to her as she mumbled into the scented neckline of mama’s blouse. “I’ll stop worrying so much. I can—”

“You can start living your life. Stop worrying about me and making excuses about why you can’t do what you want. Get a new job, take those classes, whatever. Do it and let your passion move you where it will. Drag it along if you have to. But I’m ready to go.”

“I’m not ready for you to die.” Mik’s throat closed and for a few moments, her heart stopped beating.

Mik’s mother pulled away, put her hands on her hips. “Who said anything about dying? I’m going traveling. Always wanted to do more of that.”

Relief made her burst of laughter verge on hysterical. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, your father is taking me.”

“Mama, not this again. He is not . . .”

Bright light grew around her mother and for the first time, Mik could see a figure appear in the nexus of illumination surrounding her. Unusually tall, with broad, long arms. Indistinguishable from shadow but somehow so sharp it hurt her eyes to look at it. Through the haze of shock, Mik felt its attention on her even though its features were obscured. There was a sensation of warmth from the shaded figure, coupled with a slight hesitation and a gentle pleasure at her presence.

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