“I’m sorry for your loss, Mansa.”
Jin-Koo held out a hand to his fellow werewolf, waiting for him to take it. But instead, Mansa went to greet the next group of arrivals.
The Mali house was filled with several families milling around, all sharing the same secret as its owners. Some were admiring the canine art scattered throughout the living room, but most were offering condolences to the remaining Malis.
Keiza sat in the dining room, her eyes not taking in anything around her, still filled with tears. She felt someone sit down next to her and whispered, “Leave me alone.”
The presence stayed, and then Yul’s voice asked, “How did he die?”
“Leukemia,” Keiza found herself saying, not making eye contact. “A week ago.”
They were both silent for a moment, then she continued, “I miss him so much.”
Instead of answering, Yul put his hand on Keiza’s right shoulder. She flinched but didn’t try to get it off her.
They remained like this for a couple of minutes until Yul’s mother asked from the living room, “You want to get some of Kunta’s items?”
“Later, Mom,” he answered, taking his hand off Keiza’s shoulder.
“You should go there,” she said quietly, shifting forward in her seat. “He was your best friend.”
Yul looked at Keiza for 13 seconds, then turned and headed toward the late Kunta’s belongings.
A week later, dozens of wolves gathered around the small tower of rocks, waiting for the announcer to climb up it. This time, the role fell to Keiza’s aunt, Kora.
The first order of business was listing the names of the wolves who had died the previous month. Her breath trembled as she got halfway through the roll and announced the name of her nephew, Kunta Mali.
Keiza started shaking upon hearing those words. Her limbs buckled, and she took two steps backward, trying to stabilize herself.
Once Kora finished the list, Keiza slinked away from the crowd, turned, and ran in the opposite direction. She flew through the woods, hoping to get away from the emotions crushing her.
Keiza had gotten about a thousand yards from the center when she sensed another wolf approaching her. She slowed down just as Yul came into view.
You can’t keep doing this, he told her.
Doing what? Keiza asked, tensing up as she stopped.
Running away from your feelings, he answered. Trying to flee your pain.
Keiza lowered her head and bounced back. It’s like they’re destroying me.
But you’re not destroyed, Yul responded, taking a step toward her. You’re still here.
Keiza didn’t answer for 13 seconds, then replied, I haven’t been able to sleep since Kunta died. I haven’t been able to eat or drink anything. I haven’t even been able to leave the house!
Yul looked at her for a whole minute, digesting the news in his mind. Then he told her, I’ve been struggling with it, too.
How? she asked.
I feel incomplete without Kunta, Yul admitted. Every second of every day, I’m stumbling around, searching for my best friend, only to be reminded that he’s dead. I haven’t been able to focus on anything else.
Not even your book? Keiza asked.
Unfortunately, yes, he answered simply.
She tilted her head to the left before telling Yul, You need to get back to it.
That was when several other wolves surrounded the pair, howling and barking them into stillness.
Keiza, why did you just leave us like that? Mansa reprimanded, approaching his daughter.
She sat down on her rump and answered, That was wrong. I won’t do it again.
Son, Jin-Koo asked Yul, why did you go off after her?
To bring her back to the gathering, he answered. I didn’t want to leave you behind.
We must return there, Mansa added. There are still a lot of things to discuss.
Okay, Keiza and Yul replied together. They looked at each other in shock for several seconds before separating and heading back to the circle with their families.
Keiza was lying in bed the next night when she heard a voice tell her, You love Yul. It sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place a finger on its source.
At school the next day, when Keiza passed Yul in the hallway, the voice struck again. You should be with him. That made her pause for a second, with Yul asking, “What’s wrong?”
“Uh, nothing,” she lied before hurrying away from him.
A few days later, as Keiza walked into the cafeteria, the voice said, I want you two together. This time, she recognized it as her late brother’s.
“Thank you,” she whispered and decided not to sit in the corner she’d occupied for the last month. Instead, she started heading toward the table where Yul and their friends sat.
Go for it, Keiza.
She smiled, then stopped to Yul’s left.
“Hey,” Keiza said as she sat down next to him. “You want to attend the next Gathering together?”
Yul smiled at her and answered, “Of course.”
“Whoa,” Hayk said as Keiza put her arm around Yul. “You’re a couple now?”
“Yep,” Keiza answered. “I’ve loved him since I was eight!”
“Then you deserve each other,” said Riya, raising her water bottle in a toast. “To Keiza and Yul!”
“To Keiza and Yul!” Everyone else joined in, including the new couple.
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