Vanguard (37 page)

Sophie knew Michael talked to his therapist about her impending trip. She didn’t blame him for being worried. She was, too. The thought of being separated from him for eight weeks nearly made her crazy. She was glad to be going with Anjali this time. It would be good for her to be with her best friend, and good for Michael and Will to have time together as well.

“Let’s not talk about it tonight.” She pulled back, tipping his face up to see it better in the dark. “Yes?”

He pulled her tight into his arms. “I love you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I love you,
mana mila
. I am so afraid of losing you.”

She smiled and switched to Orlisian, as she often did when she wanted the conversation to be more intimate, the connection between them to be that much stronger. “Do you remember what you said to me that night in the park before you went away to Orlisia? I said I was afraid to lose you, having already lost you too many times before. Do you remember what you said to me?”

He nodded. “I told you that you had never lost me in all our days together. That you had always had me.”

“Always. We will always have each other. I will come home to you, as you came home to me.”

There were no words in either language for Michael to answer with, for both of them knew that there were no guarantees in life. But there was always hope.

So they made love again.

In hope.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Orlisian phrases used in this story are loosely based on the Latvian language.

The Global Youth Leadership program is entirely fictional. There are, however, many wonderful experiential learning programs available around the world. Find one that’s right for you and follow your dreams.

Refugee Crisis International is also an entirely fictional organization. But thousands of people dedicate their lives and careers to development work (both paid and volunteer) in real organizations across the world, many laboring under challenging conditions in order to make a difference in their own communities, and in those far away from their homes. Their work is a game of inches with no happy ending guaranteed, and this novel is written in honor of their efforts.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported me in this personal journey, long that it was.

To Kathy Wallace for the original edit. To Laura Grey for her dear friendship and love over all the years. To Cyndy Aleo for never giving up, even when I did. To Sol Kim-Bentley, for her sharp-eyed edits and cover concept.

To Lauren Billings and Nina Bocci for their remarkable support in the last mile. To Heather Carrier for the beautiful cover execution. And to every single person who read the story, provided their feedback or expressed their appreciation. Thank you all.

To Up with People – the organization, my cast (93A), and my alumni family around the world, for changing my life forever.

To my Mom, Dad and my sister Maureen for a lifetime of support.

To Leif, the unconventional one, who helped me to find my courage in the end.

To Miriam, for always.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CJ Markusfeld is a digital marketer, parent, traveler and writer of many things. She lives and writes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This is her first published novel.

She is an alumna of Up With People, a global education organization which aims to bring the world together through service and music. You can learn more about this life-changing experience for young people at
www.upwithpeople.org
.

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