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The photo was taken 400 years ago”
    Cooper lurched forward, grabbed the parchment paper and stared. “How come I don’t see it?”
     “You need special vision to make it out,” Keira answered simply. “As I look at it with the desire to help you, I receive the vision I need to see what’s there.”
    Cooper shivered. He’d always had the powers he needed, didn’t have to depend on anyone else. It frightened him.
    “You’re separated from the Shadows now,” Keira said matter of factly, as though reading his mind. “This is a transition period. It’s part of the Grand Design.”
    Cooper stepped back. How did she know these details about The Grand Design?  He was not only stunned by finding the image of his mother but, also at the way Keira was evolving in front of his eyes. It was like watching a bird leave the nest and learn to take flight in the vast sky. Obviously, they’d been brought together for a purpose. Were they going to fly in the same direction?  Had their paths only crossed like this for a brief time?
      At that moment it became clear to Cooper that Keira had been brought to him to guide him. She was here to lead him home. And what was he here to give to her?
    “Tell me more about the photo,” Cooper took a tiny step closer.
    After a while, she nodded, with certainty.
    “I know where the letter is,” she said, as it suddenly came to her.
    He stared at her, shocked.
    “The letter you are searching for is down the road, to the left, up a hill and buried under an oak tree at the edge of the lake. The third oak tree that borders the lake.”  Then she opened her eyes. “Go now,” she said. “Find it. Quickly. We cannot linger much longer.”
    “We?” Cooper said startled. Did she think she was going with him back to his mother? Did she think they were fated to be together forever? The thought of it terrified him.
    “Why do you say we ?” he repeated.
    Keira gasped softly, took a few steps back and turned her back to him. For a moment he stared at her. How magical she looked in the fading light. Her hair fell like spun gold around her shoulders. He wanted to rush to her, put his arms around her and tell her that he wanted her to come with him. But then he felt dizzy and shook his head. No. These were just human feelings he’d never had before. He must not allow himself them!
    He turned swiftly and raced to the door, opened it and fled down the road.
    It seemed his feet lifted from the earth as he raced to the spot Keira had told him to go to. He had to stay focused on his mission, he had to put her out of his mind. She said to go to the third tree that bordered the lake.
    In less than a minute he was standing there. The light of the day had faded mostly now and the breeze from the lake blew harder and colder. Cooper swooped down at that tree and dug, the cold wind whipping his body. Then suddenly, he froze. Lying there in the dirt, untouched, unharmed and unprotected, was a letter.
    He pulled it out carefully and held it to his heart. His head flung back and his eyes teared. His heart pounded and he wanted to cry. All of this was dangerous. Should he read the letter alone now? Should he wait and read it with Keira? Would that only intensify their impossible bond? Holding the letter close to his heart, he realized how much he wanted to share it with her, hear what she thought. Cooper whirled around and practically flew back to the cottage, letter in hand.
    *
    When he walked in, Keira was standing at the far window, her back to him, looking out across the trees. She did not turn around when he came through the door. For a second he was frightened. Had he been too distant?  Was she really hurt? Would she pull away herself now?
    “I found the letter,” he murmured.
    She turned towards him, her face wet with tears.
    He felt disturbed. “You can’t stand here alone, crying.”
    “Yes, I can, Cooper,” Keira said. “That’s what human’s do.”
    “You’re more than a human, much