8

Isabel woke up full of joy, the surprise that Sora had given her put her in a good mood. She got out of bed, and when she saw the calendar on the wall, she realized that it was Saturday, which meant that there was no school. After getting ready, she went downstairs for breakfast, but to her surprise, her grandparents were not in the kitchen as usual.

Instead she saw a note stuck on the fridge, which said they would be out and would be back until later. Isabel made several sandwiches and wrapped them with several cookies her grandmother had made for her. She stuffed everything into her backpack and hurried off toward the gear forest.

When she arrived, she decided to go look for him first at the lake, as she approached

saw two silhouettes sitting on the grass. She immediately recognized them.

Sora was holding a book in his hands, in front of him was Genova, sitting with her

eyes closed, and listening to what Sora read.

- A thousand words are not enough to describe the magnificence that I see in you every day, if I could tell you the things that my mouth is silent about not being worthy of you.

Oh! How do I make the words of this delusional poet reach you?

I navigate lost in my thoughts. These verses that I write are deformed, none is worthy of your beauty ... My sweet, tell me, how do I make my words reach you, maybe if you manage to tell me one day I can write something that makes me worthy of your

love "...

Genova opened his eyes and saw Isabel, immediately, Sora stopped.

- You have a visitor," exclaimed Genova, standing up.

- I thought you were coming later," said Sora.

- Yes, I am... It's just that... Since it's Saturday, I don't have school, so I thought I would come earlier.

Sora gave her a smile and invited her to sit down.

-Where are you going? - Sora asked as she saw Genova get up and leave.

- It's time to go.

Sora gave a sigh and closed the book.

- I guess I'll read to you later.

Genova looked at Sora and then looked at Isabel.

- Remember what I told you, this place is dangerous for her, and especially today. Make sure she comes back before the end of the day.

After those words, she walked away towards the weeping willow and disappeared in an intense white light.

- I don't think she likes it very much," said Isabel.

-Don't worry, she's not used to seeing a human in this place, when you get to know her well she's very nice. Besides, she'd be gone soon anyway, she can't stay out of the tree for long.

Isabel looked at Sora, and noticed that the butterflies were still fluttering around him.

Was he, too, a spirit like Genoa? The thought crossed her mind. And more, hearing the way he said "human", as if excluding himself from that category.

She felt very curious to know everything about him, it was the greatest wish for her.

-Do you want me to read poetry to you? -asked Sora as she held the book in her hands.

hands. Isabel nodded, and the verses began to play.

Her remembering the sandwiches and cookies she had packed before she came. She opened her backpack and took out the packages next to the cookies and offered her some to Sora, putting the poetry aside and taking one.

-You know, I still haven't thanked you for the gift last night-, Isabel said, making an effort to hide her flushed cheeks from he.

- I'm glad you liked it.

As Sora smiled, Isabel tried to hide her blushing face from her, so he couldn't see her.

-I wanted to ask you, does anyone know you come here?-, Asked Sora.

- No. I have taken many precautions before coming, besides nobody really cares where I go or what I do.

Sora looked at her for a moment, and then turned her gaze to the grass.

- And your parents don't worry about their 9 year old daughter going out alone, and she coming back late?

- I'm 10, and I don't live with them, I live with my grandparents.

- And where are they?

Isabel fell silent at Sora's question. She was not used to talking about her parents, every time someone made her that question; she was silent and did not answer.

Seeing the expression of discomfort on the Isabel's face, Sora understood that this was a topic that she shouldn't touch.

- Come with me I want to show you something. Sora got up, and she followed him.

They passed through the lake, until they reached the dam wall. A huge hole opened up in front of them. Sora entered first followed by her.

The musty smell was in the air, and the incessant noise of a drop of water falling, reminiscent of the dripping of a faucet, could be heard constantly. The place was a cave, everywhere there were crystals of various colors and sizes, illuminating the interior in a great light show. Isabel, approached a green crystal, and placing her hand on one of them, began to hear a kind of whisper.

- They are whispering crystals, a long time ago people used to come here and whisper their wishes. There is a legend that says that if you whisper your wish to the crystal, and no one else hears it, it will come true.

Isabel was curious about what Sora said, but not the part about the crystals, but the part about people making wishes, that meant that this place was one that people used to

frequent, it was even obvious that the old abandoned factory at some point worked and what people worked there. However, he wondered what exactly happened?

- Sora... the people who inhabited this place, what happened to them? - He asked, waiting for Sora to answer him.

Sora stared at the water of a small pond, saying nothing. That silence made Isabel understand that he was not going to answer, but to her surprise it was not so.

- Let's say, they ceased to exist a long time ago, I am the last one left.

That answer was loaded with something that Isabel could not identify, but for some strange reason she felt sorry for Sora.

For a moment there had been an uncomfortable silence between them, Isabel wanted to know more about what had happened in that place, but she knew it would not be so simple, and even if it was, there were things that they should not ask, no matter how much they wanted to know.

- I'll show you my favorite part.

Following him through the cave along a rather narrow path the light began to fade until finally darkness was all that could be seen. Isabel felt some fear she searched the darkness until she clung to Sora's shirt.

-I want you to clap your hands- Sora asked her, as she began to clap her hands.

Doing as she asked, her hands began to produce a shrill sound, the sound waves crashed against the walls of the cave producing an echo, and a few minutes later something truly magical and wonderful happened in front of Isabel's eyes. The cave lit up in a boreal green trail whose hue changed to purple, then to blue and back to green, repeating the same pattern. It was truly amazing, Isabel thought. A smile appeared on her face. While Sora was happy to show her the phenomenon.

- It's amazing to have an aurora borealis here! - Isabel exclaimed with joy.

- I have been trying to decipher this phenomenon, however, I have not been able to do so. I understand the basic principle of aurora borealis and magnetic fields, but I don't understand how sound waves produce that here.

- I have never seen one before. Thank you for showing me this Sora, it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

The rest of the day passed slowly, minutes turned into hours, and time didn't exist at that moment. Sora played music for her, they read books, played chess and told stories.

Isabel, enjoyed that day very much, she loved Sora's company, and in turn Sora enjoyed hers. But although she wanted that quality time to last a little longer, it was time to go home.

Back at the old abandoned churche, Sora pulled out a small red crystal, shaped like a music box and handed it to her.

-What is this? -asked Isabel, looking at the crystal with great curiosity.

- It is a gift.

A big smile appeared on her face, for a second she was about to run and hug him, but embarrassment prevented her from doing so.

- Thank you, I'll keep it forever -smiled Sora seeing her happy-. I don't have class tomorrow either, so I'll come at the same time, bye.

Before Isabel walked away from him, Sora's words stopped her.

- I'm afraid that won't be possible.

- Why? -Isabel asked, not understanding.

- Do you remember what Genova mentioned when you arrived today? That the forest is dangerous for you, especially today," Isabel nodded at the memory. You see, today will be the convergence at midnight. It means that my world and yours are going to separate, so I won't be here, and you won't be able to go back to the forest.

Those words tied a knot in Isabel's chest, it was as if he suddenly took something important away from her. She didn't want to believe those words.

-Will I never see you again? -Isabel asked, making a great effort to keep her voice from breaking.

Sora gave her a smile to reassure her.

- I never said that, what I mean is that... we won't be able to see each other for a while, that's all.

- And how long is that?

- A year.

Isabel was silent, she couldn't believe she had to wait so long to see him again.

Sora, reached over and rested her hand on Isabel's head, and with a tender caress began to say:

- Don't be discouraged, in a year I'll be back, I know it's a long time but, at least I won't have to leave forever..... Besides, even if I'm not here, my music will, it will be as if I were with you- said Sora pointing to the little crystal music box.

- How will I know when you're back?

- When my music comes to your window, you will know I am back.

Isabel smiled and said:

- Very well, then I will wait for you next year.

Sora and Isabel said goodbye with the promise that he would return and that she would wait for him, even if the wait was long, she would be waiting until next year.