Eyes

By Kal Tomson

The rain pours down over my shoulders. I crouch next to the tree we used to climb, sobbing.

“It’s the circle of life, Maya.” I startle as Mama comes up behind me. “You have to let him go.”

I rest my palm against the wet grass. “Why?”

“The way of life,” Mama repeats. She leans down and helps me to my feet. “It happens to all of us.”

I let her lead me into the house.

I lie in bed that night, unable to sleep.

And that’s when I see them.

His eyes, bright green, staring at me in the dark, as if sitting on Mama’s bed.

I tell myself it’s the cat we don’t have.

Mama is still sleeping, so I slip outside and head to the tree to try and escape my fears. The cool night air comforts me in a way my brother’s hugs always did. The tears flow again as memories of Jax come to mind. I rest my hand on a gnarled limb, remembering the time we snuck out of bed to sleep on that branch. The times we hid in the tree instead of doing chores. When he helped me conquer my fear of falling.

Slowly, I swing myself up into the ancient branches and settle in. This was his favorite spot.

I climb higher.

Why did he have to get sick? Why did he have to follow the eyes?

A sudden realization makes my heart skip a beat.

Just before the fall, Jax told me he saw two green, cat-like eyes. They led him to the tree, even though I told him that the sickness made him too weak to climb.

“No, no, no, no!” I bury my face in my hands. The eyes… they came for my brother. Are they coming for me?

“Maya?” Mama comes into the yard, squinting as if it is very bright.

Suddenly I see them again. Through the branches, two green eyes stare at me, filled with longing.

“No!” I grab onto the branches for dear life. “Not tonight.”

“I’m not here for you.” The voice, similar to Jax’s, comes from the eyes. “But maybe…”

And they turn toward Mama.

“Mama!” I cry. “Don’t move. Please!”

She sees me, hears me, but she is focused on the eyes.

“The way of life, Maya.” Her gaze shifts to me for a second.

Then she turns back to them. “Come forward, if you please.”

The eyes drift out of the shadows, revealing a  figure with something familiar in the shape of its face.

Now I see why Jax was willing to follow the eyes to his death. Now I understand why Mama was so calm about her son’s passing.

I lean forward and almost fall off the branch.

“Father!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kal Tomson is a Christian girl from Maine. She loves to read, write, and other artsy things. Her favorite genre to read and write is fantasy. She loves Star Wars, classics, and snow. Running and soccer are always favorites, and writing has been her passion since she was very young. She loves being outside and hanging out with her friends.

---

More Stories