Page 55 of Spell Ya Later

I see her shoes as she approaches me. “I don’t mean to be a taskmaster. I just want you to learn all that you’ve missed, and I suppose I’m motivated by more than a little guilt.”

That captures my attention. I lift my eyes to meet her blue ones, laced with turmoil. “Guilt for what?”

“Many things,” she huffs a laugh that has more stress than levity in it. “For now, tell me about the past few days. Haveyou had any manifestations of your element? Have you been meditating?”

I open my mouth to say no, and then...

Oh shit. It happened. I manifested my element last night. When Noah was...

My cheeks heat so quickly I’m almost lightheaded.

I levitated while he was...while I was...Not the image I want in my head while trying to have a conversation with my grandma.

“I levitated once.”

She smirks. It’s an evil, knowing grin that I very much do not appreciate. Lock that shit up, Grandma, I’m not talking about this with you.

“That would confirm that your element is air, like I assumed earlier. It makes sense for you.” She nods, winking at me. Ew.

I lift my chin with the little dignity I have left. “So what does that mean?”

“It means we have made a wonderful step forward. Sit down. Let’s meditate and see if we can further connect you.”

We sit as we did in our other lessons and go through the relaxation process. Contracting and releasing every muscle in our bodies until the world is calm and still.

“The air,” she whispers into the silence between us. “It is your connection. It runs through every part of you and re-centers you. It takes you back to this place, to this level of relaxation and calm. The air is in the breeze as it sweeps over your skin. It is how we breathe, how we live. Feel it as you drag it into your lungs, as you release it back into the world.”

I am weightless. Air rushes through my body in my bloodstream. It is the very essence of my ability to live, to thrive.

“How do you feel?” she asks.

I smile softly. “At peace.”

“You’re levitating. You have found your center, your connection.”

I open my eyes to find I’m a few inches off the pillow. And I am at peace.

“Grandma, I have a question for you.” Peace loosens my tongue apparently. “It’s about Noah.”

“You can ask me anything,” she says with the kind of composure I can only dream of having. She’s the epitome of calm, cool, and collected. I doubt the woman has ever been surprised in her life.

“When I touch him...” My cheeks heat at the very thought of his touch. “Ever since the first time, it has been electric. Literally electric. There’s this connection between us. It started as a jolt with every accidental brush, but now it’s grown. Sometimes it’s a gentle hum, and sometimes it’s a strong buzz. Do you know anything about that?”

Grandma’s eyebrows jump into her hairline as every single candle extinguishes simultaneously. Her mouth drops.

“Grandma?” I ask after a few long moments of silence.

She shakes her head, her eyebrows coming down but not hitting their normal height. “Give me a moment.”

The pillow is suddenly beneath me as I drop painfully onto my tailbone. I’ve come down and not just physically. Despite how amazing the electricity feels, her reaction can’t mean anything good. Grandma has never been speechless.

A sniffle snaps my gaze back to her face. She’s...crying? A few tears roll down her smiling cheeks.

Wait. Smiling?

“Grandma, please,” I beg, grabbing her hands. “You’re scaring me.”

She pulls me into a hug, grasping me close to her. “I’m so happy for you.”