Chapter 107

The day spent with Grandma Jo was comforting. It was exactly what I needed after spending the last twenty-four hours stuck in my thoughts.

Her warm, wrinkled hand rested on mine as we strolled through the garden behind her house. I loved it back here and it's grown so much more since I was a child.

I could tell that Grandma Jo spent a lot of time back here, caring for all of her flowers.

The late afternoon sun created long shadows across the grassy lawn, and the scent of blooming flowers filled the air. It was all you could ever need to unwind.

The rose bushes in the center of the garden were my favorite. There were varying shades of red and pink, bringing a vibrance to the surrounding area.

Although I could lay out here for hours and soak in nature, I found myself constantly anxious about the information I had learned.

As we walked, I couldn't help but think about what I'd read about wolfless conditions and how it might affect me. My mind was full of questions and concerns, and I needed Grandma Jo's wisdom to navigate it.

If anyone would be able to give me some guidance, it would be her.

Lucas had told me that he always trusted Grandma Jo's judgment and advice. Maybe she could help me.

"Is everything okay, dear?" Grandma Jo's gentle voice broke through my haze.

I looked at her, stunned she had noticed something was amiss.

She smiled gently. "I've noticed how quiet you've been today. You're not usually so silent."

I sighed, struggling to put my feelings into words. "I've just been thinking about life, Grandma Jo. You know, our purpose, what makes us fulfilled, and... well, death."

Grandma Jo chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with wisdom. "Oh, you've been pondering life's big questions, haven't you? That's why you're in such a rut?"

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. "Yes, I have."

"That's normal for someone your age," she said. "Actually, it's true for any age. You don't think I have my days where I think about those same things?"

"You do?" I questioned, tilting my head in consideration.

"Of course, I do. I'm human. I question things. I want to learn things. I contemplate things."

She led me to a weathered wooden bench right in between the rose bushes, and we sat down.

Grandma Jo looked at me carefully, and I felt a deep sense of connection with her. From her gaze, it seemed like she held the keys to some of life's greatest mysteries.

"What have you learned that you can share with me?" I asked.

"Well, first of all. Life's purpose," Grandma Jo began, "it's not about one defining moment, dear. It's about all the little moments that make up a lifetime. And as for death," she continued, "it's a part of the journey. We can't change that, but we can embrace life fully, every day we have."

"Do you think you've lived a life with purpose?" She blinked at me when I said this, and I rushed to explain myself. "I don't mean to offend you in any way. I just want to see how you perceive the world we live in."

"I'm not offended, Shana. I appreciate your curiosity. It's good to be curious, you know?" She smiled at me warmly. "And I think I understand what you're really asking me."

Did she know?

"Our society has not been kind to you," she continued. "And believe me, they haven't been kind to me either. There are people in this world who will always have hate in their hearts, no matter how wonderful you are. There are also people who will love you as you are, even if you hurt them."

Her words resonated with me, filling me with a sense of comfort.

"It's a little bit about that," I confessed. "I have this label placed on me... wolfless... and I don't want it to define me. I don't want to just be remembered as that."

"Shana, you bring more purpose to this life than that. For instance, I know you are strong and fight for those you love." She smiled at me. "I haven't forgotten how you used to protect Lucas when the two of you were younger."

"You remember that?" I asked her, the memories flashing through my mind.

"I do. I witnessed firsthand how you stood up for him, and I know Lucas has done the same for you, now. The two of you are more alike than you might know, despite the 'labels' society has given you."

I nodded, agreeing with Grandma Jo's words. She was right, after all. There was more to me than just the name that people had given me based on my lack of wolf.

"As for my own life," Grandma Jo continued. "I've lived a very long and happy life that's still continuing to get better as each year passes. I've been through more ups and downs than I can count, but I'm still standing, aren't I?"

"How do you manage to always pick up the pieces when you feel like everything is falling apart?" I asked, needing to know her answer to this question more than anything else.

"You just have to push yourself. It's not easy, and as you said, it'll feel like everything is falling apart. But what's really falling apart is a version of your old self. When we're faced with something difficult and make it out, we're shedding a part of our old selves and emerging into a stronger version of ourselves."

"And that's why I'm so wise," Grandma Jo teased.

I laughed, appreciating her honesty and insight.

"Thank you, Grandma Jo. I really needed to hear some words of encouragement."

She squeezed my hand. "Shana, I'll be here for you whenever you need me."

When Lucas returned from hockey practice, his cheerful demeanor was infectious, and it made the house feel brighter.

"Hey, Shana," he said immediately after dropping his hockey bag on the floor of the living room. "Got any plans tomorrow?"

"No," I said. "Why?"

"Do you want to go out tomorrow?"

His request took me by surprise. We spent so much time together already, and Lucas had never formally asked me to hang out like this before.

"Why the sudden urge to go out tomorrow?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Grandma Jo, ever perceptive, chimed in subtly, "Lucas, dear, you seem quite excited about this outing."

Lucas blushed, and I couldn't help but feel intrigued. I had to hide a smile behind my hand.

"Well, Shana," he said, "I thought we could do something special, just the two of us. We're always hanging out at home, I want to go out and have some fun. We're only young once."

Thinking about my conversation with Grandma Jo earlier, I thought about Lucas's request.

He was right. We are only young once.

"Okay," I agreed, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. "I'm down to go out tomorrow."

"Great," Lucas smiled. "But we both have to dress up a little bit more. Do you have any dresses you can wear?"

"If you don't, I have plenty," Grandma Jo added.

A shiver of anticipation ran down my spine.

Dressing fancy? Something about this outing definitely felt different, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.