“Baby you.” I held my arms out. “Can I hold you?”

He dove for me. For a few moments, I held onto him. I knew by the look on Everest’s face he wasn’t going to let me stay even as long as he did last time. It was both a blessing and a burden to have these moments. Bittersweet indeed. Because even if I assumed Rae was alive in my future, which I refused to accept a theory where he wasn’t, he would be a grown man by then. This would be my only chance to see him as a small child. But I knew if I stayed an hour, I’d want two. Never would it be enough.

Auryn buried her face in Everest’s shoulder and cried.

Akecheta crouched down beside us. “Hey Rae Rae.”

He pulled back. “Yes, Father?”

“Remember when I told you that one day you would meet Meemaw but you would have to say goodbye right away?” He ran his hand through his son’s hair. “Remember that?”

Rae nodded. “Can we have a new painting? I’m big now.”

“You’re so big.” I smiled and reached into my bag to pull out my printer. Once I had it plugged In and ready, I pulled him into my chest and took a selfie of us. When it printed out, I handed it to him. “Just for you, my little Rae.”

His eyes flashed every color of the rainbow like his father’s did. He grinned. “Thank you, Meemaw. Now everyone?”

I chuckled. “Okay. Everyone now.”

“I am still so perplexed by this device,” Auryn whispered.

The others remembered how to do it, so it only took a second to snap another group photo and print it out for them. Rae held our selfie, so I handed the second one to Auryn.

She sniffled. “Bittersweet it is.”

I hugged her. “And you all get the painful end of the deal. I am sorry for that. I am sorry for whatever led to my leaving you, but I cannot wait for our future.”

“Five less years,” she whispered.

I stepped back then turned to my soulmate. New tears filled my eyes. “I cannot tell if this is getting easier or harder. Every time I leave you is torture.”

He pulled me into his chest and held me tight. “I know of this torture you speak well.”

“I’m sorry.”

He kissed my forehead then gently pushed me backwards. This time I wasn’t surprised by it, so I didn’t stumble or crash into the tunnel wall. I stared at my soulmate for a moment but as the tunnel started to close, I turned to look at Rae. He would never be this young again.

“Bye, Meemaw,” he whispered.