By Elizabeth Jane Shelton

Lyra’s greatest desire was to write a story worthy of Miriel Takkenridge.

Three years ago, when Lyra first moved to Bridgewater Falls as an aspiring writer, Miriel took her in. Since then, she had shared the magic in her life with Lyra.

Like the bookshelf that sometimes opened to distant lands. Or the meringue cookies that literally made you happier when you ate them.

Everything but the truth about her past. With that, maybe Lyra could have written the novel that had tugged at her heart since she’d met Miriel.

Now, Miriel sat with Matteo, her enormous Saint Bernard, curled at her feet. Her pendant, which she always wore, came from a far-away land, and she claimed the necklace was a promise from some prince long, long ago.

“I’m leaving in three days, dear,” Miriel said.

Lyra’s eyes brimmed with tears. “But what… Miriel, what am I going to do without you? You’re the most magical thing in Bridgewater Falls.”

Miriel smiled at her. It was a sad smile, but tinged with excitement. Lyra had never seen Miriel quite like this. Jittery, almost nervous. “Calm down, Lyra. It’s going to be all right. I’m making all the arrangements.”

“Arrangements?”

“To make sure you’re taken care of.” Of course Miriel would worry about Lyra. That’s all she ever did—care for the people around her. “And for my party, of course. I can’t leave without a celebration!”

“A party.” Lyra’s head spun. Her world was ending, and Miriel wanted to throw a party.

“You’ll see! We’ll have a grand time. A proper send-off.” Miriel winked.

“But a send-off to where, Miriel?”

“To the place I’ve always wanted to be.” She got a distant look in her eye, and Matteo stirred, picking his head off the floor to look at her and whine. Miriel absently petted his head. “I’ve waited a long, long time for this, Lyra. Just this once, I’m going to do what I need.” She grinned. “I’m going home.”

Lyra still didn’t understand. Wasn’t Bridgewater Falls Miriel’s home? But she’d never seen Miriel so happy, so… unburdened.

Lyra sighed. Miriel would either tell her or she wouldn’t. All Lyra could do was make the most of the time they had left.

***

Lyra and Miriel only had three days to plan the party, and while they were some of the busiest days of Lyra’s life, they were also some of the sweetest.

Each morning, Lyra and Miriel walked Matteo to Miriel’s favorite coffee shop in downtown Bridgewater Falls. The pair sat at a table outside, guarded by Matteo, and chatted over a cup of Earl Grey and a plate of scones. Then Lyra took an hour to try to work on her manuscript—largely unsuccessfully—while Miriel made calls. Not party calls. Miriel calls.

“Yes, I’d like to order six months’ worth of cat food? No, not for me, it goes to Sadie on Park Ave. Her cat has a sensitive stomach.”

“Tiffany, love, it’s time for you to learn how to get stains out of your kids’ clothes. I’ll be at your house at two.”

“Hi, Lizzie dear. How are you? Listen, I’m finally ready to give you that recipe…”

Lyra couldn’t help but smile as she listened to Miriel prepare her friends for a future without her.

In the afternoons, Lyra took over party planning: buying decorations, delivering invitations, and working through Miriel’s scavenger-hunt-like list of ingredients. Miriel would be making the food, of course. She trusted no one else to feed the people of Bridgewater Falls.

Evenings were reserved for the two of them. Lyra and Miriel sat by the fireplace—which Lyra had never seen Miriel light but was always mysteriously burning and cheerful when they needed it—and just talked, or read, or sat quietly in each others’ company.

Finally, the day arrived.

The sky was cloudless as guests mingled in Miriel’s blooming garden. Of course it was. Not even the weather would dare mess up Miriel’s day. People congratulated her on her upcoming “trip,” not quite understanding, but always happy to celebrate Miriel and partake in her excellent cooking. Lyra stayed close by Miriel’s side the whole day, full of swirling emotions: love, sadness, confusion, anxiety.

Until the moment Miriel pulled Lyra away from the party and back into the house, leading her to the bookshelf in the sitting room. It was angled slightly away from the wall.

Miriel swung it open, like a door, and Lyra gasped. The doorway was ringed with shimmering white light, revealing a sunlit meadow of wildflowers. A young man with golden hair and a crown stood on the other side.

He wore a pendant identical to Miriel’s.

He grinned when he saw them. “Ready, Miriel?”

Lyra’s eyes widened. “Miriel. When you said there was a prince, you—oof!”

Miriel wrapped her in a bone-crunching hug. “Take care of yourself, Lyra. You’re going to be just fine. I love you!” With a wink, she stepped through the doorway.

Except when she turned back around, a beautiful young woman smiled at Lyra, dressed in Miriel’s clothes, wearing Miriel’s pendant. She blew Lyra a kiss as the doorway began to close.

Just before it did, Matteo streaked through the room with a deep “Woof!” and dove through the crack. A puppy yipped just before the bookshelf shut.

Lyra was never able to open it again.

***

That night, Lyra found the gifts Miriel had left her.

One was the deed for the house, fully paid off, now in Lyra’s name.

The second was a huge stack of paper, with a note:

You always talked about writing a fantastical story. Well, I’m leaving you mine. Maybe you can tell it to the rest of the world.

The magic is yours now. Use it wisely.

All my love,

Miriel Takkenridge

Lyra held up the first sheet of the stack. It was in Miriel’s handwriting. She began to read:

When I was sixteen, I saved the world.

It just wasn’t my world…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Jane Shelton has loved stories of every kind since she was young, although fantasy is her favorite. She strives to write stories that are both entertaining and meaningful, and she hopes to impact others and honor her Creator with her writing. If she’s not working on a story, it’s probably because she’s writing code at her job as a software engineer.

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