The evening settles into a quiet night with rays of rich ruby fading into a deep sapphire sky. A persistent nippy breeze slips through the cracks of the tiny window. Finally, we are alone.
“Your father’s quite a remarkable man.” Karma slides his arm around my waist. “Wanting you to stay a free woman until we return.”
I lean in and lay my head against his chest. The sweet scent of mountains and meadows, and of the churned earth in the summer sun, floats around me. My love. His fingers caress my cheek. How I yearned for this moment, just the two of us after a day that’s been too long.
He and Father settled into a truce, and Father even asked him to stay after we said goodbye to Dendup this late afternoon. Dendup. My dear elder. His lively laughter echoes from afar. I’ll miss having him
