Pure Magic
by Daphne Garrido
She loved her so much.
Just watching Paddy work the garden was Yora’s favorite thing to do.
To have this now — home away from it all, travels ended, time at last for peace — Yora was immersed in joy.
Once a musician, her adventures had cut paths beyond The Reach, seeing her take on the burden of false-need to prove herself, endeavoring to becoming ‘great’ in the ways Northlanders so expected of their kinfolk. It had been a bumpy ride, her life.
To be here at last, with no need for anything but breath and love, was more than she’d hoped for.
For it to be with Paddy — the single most incredible sorceress she’d ever laid eyes upon — is what gifted the purest bliss imaginable that Yora so lived with.
Her sunshine would never dim.
They were sprawled before the fireplace.
Yora, supporting Paddy’s head upon her shoulder, Marlowe between them. Paddy, deeply absorbed within a book. Yora, just breathing in the moment.
It had been years since they’d adopted Marlowe, their loyal bloodhound.
The dog wouldn’t leave Paddy’s side.
He was her goodest boy, through and through.
Yora would secretly try and win his allegiance by sneaking him treats, but there was just something in Paddy which drew animals to her — especially dogs.
The way in which Paddy and Yora had fallen in love, so long ago, is what had forged their strongest bond imaginable.
Pure magic is what brought them together.
Paddy had been Yora’s friend, back when she was still with her ex-husband, with whom she’d had a child.
Yora had always found herself infatuated with Paddy.
There was something in her ways which caused the deepest stirrings of want she’d ever feel for another, or anything, for that matter.
This had been the ultimate undoing of Yora’s previous relationship. Still, she knew Paddy didn’t see her the same.
There was to be a great and saddened period of Yora’s life, where she’d long for Paddy — a darkness she’d navigate alone.
Within it, she’d find the strangest things beginning to happen. Stirrings of emotion unlike she’d known before, those of the heart. Yet she swore them not her only her own.
It seemed to be coming from the right-most cavity of her chest, as if another heart had been grafted there inside.
In the wake of this, receiving dreams and intuitions, navigating so much confusion and fear, Yora would come to believe it was Paddy.
She was feeling her somehow, she’d sworn it.
It didn’t make sense, it was nothing she’d asked for, but when she started to realize what it was — or at least think she had — she’d prayed it true. That it not be some cruel trick of fate, or her losing her mind.
For surely, if sanity was to be lost, it would be over this most beautiful sorceress she’d wanted after so terribly.
She would eventually find a strange sense of faith, quelling her fears that it was some great lie. Or somehow, if it was, ‘twas meant to be.
Yora uncovered a conviction of belief by decoding her whole life, finding that despite everything reality seemed to be telling her to the contrary, this most bizarre truth was the only thing which could make sense of it all. At least in some strangest spiritual sense. Every moment beforehand, was somehow brought into focus by the love she felt for this amazing woman.
Eventually, she’d come to realize that second heart had been within her chest all-along. Her whole lifetime, it had always been Paddy.
Discovering this knowing from subtle secrets remembered from throughout her life, she’d been able to move forward without sorrow and fear again. For the most part, at least.
They’d remained apart, and her attempts to reach out had proven disastrous.
She’d supposed she shouldn’t have had all the mead before she’d sent those letters.
Yora would eventually begin writing songs for Paddy.
Within these songs she’d find answers to questions long sought, subconscious knowings she’d had no way to understand, feelings from throughout her whole life — finally found — within melodies of the songs she now wrote. Realizing, every moment she’d felt the fluttering of these feelings before, was when another song had sounded close, when she’d heard lyrics which were reminiscent of those she’d write one day.
She’d found these works she created were the most gratifying and accomplished songs she’d ever written.
So enamored with these creations, it no longer mattered if it was real at all — such inspiration it inspired within her heart.
One faithful day, long after she’d expected, Yora found those lyrics which made her soul so sing — reminding her so of childhood — were the very same lyrics which would bring her great love home.
Her heart had remembered them, ahead of time.
After a long time with no word, she’d lost hope that this feeling was actually Paddy, that they’d ever hear her songs. Thinking, perhaps, her heart had been confused. That it was someone else, yet unmet, who she felt so shining within her chest.
Until the day came.
Paddy, having returned from a most grueling adventure, feet tired, soul weary — had finally come home to Yora.
She’d heard every one of her songs. She’d been listening to them the whole time. Within their reconciliation was born the most precious and enduring love that could ever be imagined.
There had been so much hurt in it all, so much misunderstanding from their friendship ended upon the altar of Yora’s wanting, even cruelty. But in the end, all they’d been through had made them more committed to each other than would have otherwise been possible. A soul-bound determination forged within them both, to never do that to each other again.
There was no love like theirs in all The Reach.
To simply rest beside Paddy, in their home, beside this fire — even after all this time, all these years — was still something Yora could not take for granted. That’s why she’d just sit here like this beside her. Not needing a book herself.
She didn’t want any distractions.
This is exactly where she wanted to be.
Paddy had cut out on one of her adventures, a common trope in the relationship.
Yora, knowing her want to settle down was not in-line with all that was to come in Paddy’s life, encouraged this. To have her heart inside, living right beside her own, was all she’d ever need.
To know she’d come back home.
Paddy had been seeing a fairy in the Sacred Grove — this kind of thing didn’t concern Yora.
She was happy to hold space for Paddy getting all she could of life. Knowing their bond transcendent, a part of their souls, there was no worry within her that she’d be left.
Yora wanted Paddy to have fun, even though she’d not want that in the same ways herself, ever satisfied to be as she was with The Reach and Paddy alone. Still, she was grateful she’d been bestowed some kind of protection from Paddy’s feelings during these times they spent with others, at least, on a conscious level.
There were those suspicious moments where her heart would feel a bit sick, and she’d have the strongest inclination to not ponder why.
She could always feel it when Paddy was taking some special time to think of her though, that felt different than anything else.
Yora had taken the day to pamper herself.
She’d fallen back asleep in the tub after waking at sunrise, picking vegetables from the garden to prepare for the night’s meal, writing a new song which she’d found begging to come through.
All her songs these days were still about Paddy. She’d given up on trying to force herself to write about anything else.
Tomatoes… she had to be careful about.
Paddy was very picky about the quality of her produce. Quick to pass on a meal because the way it looked had made her stomach churn.
Yora loved her for it — especially enjoying the little gagging sounds she’d make — just like every intricacy of her character.
It had been such a distinctive moment when she’d finally found this intangible level of intimacy with Paddy and their walls had come down.
Yora remembered this time in other relationships, always feeling the crushing weight of reality. This kind of immediate regret for getting exactly what she’d been asking for, seeing the real person beneath the veneer they presented.
With Paddy, it was so different.
When those boundaries came down, and she’d shown all of her messiest self, Yora found it to be the most deeply relieving sensation she’d ever known, a complete contrast to how it’d been with everyone else before.
Somehow, simply knowing she was in intimate connection with this astounding woman, empowered her to walk differently, floating above everything. Nothing could touch her if she had a place in Paddy’s heart.
It’s all she’d come to want.
Hours had passed, there’d been some unusually strong feelings in the right side of her chest which concerned Yora.
Still, ever since they’d gotten together so long ago, there hadn’t been a single moment Paddy hadn’t thought of her first, hadn’t taken every effort to let her know how she was doing.
Yora felt confident she’d be home shortly, or at least would hear from her.
That’s what her hope had been.
She’d discovered, after a few more hours writing music, it didn’t happen.
It would be the hardest night of Yora’s life.
At least, since those many years ago, when she’d been so afraid that she’d never see Paddy again.
She wouldn’t sleep that night — feeling into her heart the whole time.
There was so much hurt coming from Paddy, but Yora couldn’t tell why, or where she’d gone — only impressions of how it felt.
It would be the next morning she’d leave to find her.
Yora’s life had been one of peaceful rhythms for such a time now, being out on the road and filled with such worry was completely unmooring to her heart.
She’d been a bit of a panic and called on her daughter Jordin to join.
Jordin was more than happy to take part on this trek with her mother. She’d loved Paddy as much as anyone, always looking up to her.
It’d actually been the sticking point for a long time with Paddy — Jordin’s presence in Yora’s life — feeling it a responsibility she’d never want, and certainly didn’t need.
Eventually, she’d come to find it had not been the burden she’d imagined. The time Yora spent with her daughter was a boon to Paddy’s own independence, which she so valued, and Yora had protected her from those weights she’d not wanted always.
Paddy had just made a little friend for life, who’d looked up to her so, inspired by this strong woman who took no shit from anyone. You could even tell Jordin had eventually fashioned who she became, as a woman, out of her adoration for Paddy.
Like mother, like daughter, Yora had supposed.
Now grown, an adult her own, thriving in the world — Jordin was a sight to see.
Every single chance Yora had to see her daughter, she’d find her heart singing such a tune. They’d been her strong little girl through some tough times. They’d held each other through some very rough nights. To see her living the best of lives was a blessing Yora would be unpacking forever. It’s graces upon her, countless.
This precious little love had shown Yora the way so many times before.
Now she’d lead her back to Paddy.
They’d reached the Sacred Grove.
Paddy wasn’t there.
She’d left some time ago with Marlowe, they’d been heading home.
“What could have happened?” Yora kept asking her daughter, knowing she’d not have the answer.
It was the concern on her daughter’s face which had caused Yora to break beneath the weight of it all.
After such time of peace, for it to feel so like that hurt from long-ago, of being away from Paddy, of not knowing — it all came rushing back.
They’d found a little stream to sit by. Jordin held her mother as she’d wept.
Yora couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried like this.
Eventually, feelings moved with the grace of the stream’s flow, and they returned to The Reach. As they made their way into the great woodland-plateau, they’d asked around.
They’d made each stop they could imagine Paddy might have made.
No one had seen her.
These people were like family to them, The Reach was a community they’d become a part of. Paddy loved them all. She’d not travel through without making some kind of impact.
It was her way — she lit up the world everywhere she went.
Yora would take some time here.
She’d really focus, trying to feel Paddy, trying to figure out where she’d gone, if she was okay.
Her sense of their heart had gone quiet.
This happened sometimes when Paddy was sleeping, when they were far away, when they were really focused on something, or in their garden at peace.
Yet under these circumstances, it had caused Yora to fall into despair.
She’d felt like a sad little girl again — this wise old woman.
A mess of tears and cries, having trouble even walking down the road, Jordin had made a plan to calm her down.
Yora would go home, check, and wait for Paddy there, while Jordin went up to the lake.
That was Marlowe’s favorite place, and Paddy took him every day.
It was on the walk home, within the silence of Yora’s chest, that she sensed something bad had happened.
She didn’t want it to be true.
But she could feel it was.
She’d almost broken the door down getting inside. The whole house was empty.
Paddy wasn’t here.
Yora’s heart screamed the most hurt she’d ever felt, even more than those pains so long ago. She was not ready for this to be over yet.
She wanted it to go on forever — living like this.
Yora collapsed then, her tears flowing ever-harder.
She’d been that way for some time before she crawled to her feet and began to wipe her face, taking time to breathe.
It was in this moment where she’d felt the sharpest surge off the right-side of her chest.
So strong — she’d know that feeling anywhere.
That was her Paddy.
The front door opened. Paddy broke in with Marlowe her arms, his hind legs wrapped in bandages.
He’d been hurt.
She’d had to take him on an emergency run to Gina, the veterinarian who Paddy insisted Marlowe see, well beyond The Reach. Demanding the best care for her goodest boy always.
Paddy was apologizing as soon as she’d come in the door. She’d been feeling all of what Yora was going through. It wasn’t the same for Paddy, but over the years she’d realized she could feel her too.
Still, she’d not expected to find Yora this distraught. She’d not seen an inkling of sadness in this woman for years.
Always smiles she was, every day.
It took some time for Paddy to explain it all. She’d sent a courier, it just hadn’t reached home until after Yora set out that morning. It had all been such an immediate thing, Marlowe needing help right away.
He was okay though. He was going to be fine.
The feelings Yora had in her heart then, holding Paddy so unreasonably tight, were unique to that moment just like so many others throughout their relationship.
Somehow, the knowing in her was stronger than it had ever been.
She’d felt this out-of-time too, remembering it in every second of her life, calling out for this embrace from all of her darkest moments, always finding strength to move on by knowing it would one day be hers to hold.
This was love.
This was home.
