Read The Radical (Unity Vol.1) Online
Authors: S.M. Lynch
The Radical (Unity Vol.1) (38 page)
I
understood completely. I had one more question, however.
‘How did you manage to stay so strong, after everything?’
She appeared taken aback, slightly offended almost. Her eyes narrowed on me and she rose from the bench with some effort and turned away. She hid her face from view and gathered herself to make a lasting reply.
‘I
learned long ago to survive on nothing Ryken, even before I married Tom, and that is what you will have to do too. To have had him in my life at all was a blessing I was thankful for every day. When he died, I had to become something more, something indestructible, in order to really become the
Operator
. Fate found me and molded me to become seemingly infallible. But I had a lot of friends to help me along the way, and they got me through. You, however, will have to go it alone. You know what needs to be done, anyway, don’t you?’
‘Yes.’
Somehow my mind had become so clear and I knew what my place was. I was tasked with this because Seraph couldn’t save herself, only I could. I knew how difficult it might be for her to go on, but I also knew at least without fear of death, she may seek a quieter life.
I
knew the path that lay ahead and that was all that mattered. Hopefully at the end of it all, was a pathway to peaceful days spent loving her.
‘Where do you mean to go when this is all over?’
I asked Eve.
‘Mara and I mean to stow ourselves away somewhere incredibly quiet and desolate, and live out the rest of our days in
harmony, away from all this. We can finally just be mother and daughter. Only you and Camille will know the truth Ryken. I have to detach myself completely otherwise I will never be free. This world will go on without me, and I will go on without the world. My last days need to be mine and mine alone. Someone like me cannot simply just come back from the dead. You can, however, to take care of her. My precious angel. She is strong, so very strong, but she needs you more than you realize. She reminds me of myself when I was young. Simply surviving, until one day a man turned my head and showed me what it could be like to really love someone, to really be with someone who knew what I was feeling without me even speaking, who finished off my sentences before I did, who made me complete and pushed me to be the best I could be. A soul mate, life partner and best friend. Even during the worst of times, love can spring up from nowhere and prove to be transformative, inspiring and life-giving.’
I
could have cried, knowing what she had lost. Yet she had not succumbed to bitterness. I shook my head in disbelief and admitted, ‘I’ve never heard anyone talk so honestly about love like that.’
‘Ryken, love her as if every day is the last. She just needs time and for you to be there for her. Believe me, she’ll not let you go easily once she’s got you.’
I stood up to take the woman’s hand within my own, bending down to kiss her satin knuckles.
‘I
t’s been a pleasure meeting you,’ I said genuinely.
Her f
ace tinged with blushes and I felt a little gratified knowing she approved.
‘Goodbye
Ryken. Remember everything I said. I’ll be in touch. Now go… and wait.’
‘I will… a
nd Eve, thank you.’
She bowed her head and I
returned to the cabin above.
This book has an interesting story of its own. It began as a dream so long ago now. It was an idea that persisted in my mind, something I held onto, hoping one day to be able to pursue it as a novel. During a long period of maternity leave in 2011/2012, I started writing.
I started thinking about the future a lot more seriously after having my first child. Then Seraph appeared in my mind. She and I fought… a lot. In the beginning I was a new mummy at odds with her. But she was Seraph, she was such a complicated character to nail down and in the end, I had to let her run free, in all her tough, complex gloriousness. Hers was a story constantly biting at me, begging to be told. I am not sure any other book will ever match this one for me. I love all my characters, all my stories, but this one just represents so much. I wrote it while my daughter was very small and despite sleepless nights and all the usual family commitments I was contending with at the time, this story continued to manifest in those moments where I had a tiny window of time to type. This novel obsessed me and transformed me. I cannot express in words how seriously this book took me and shaped me; how it made me realize what a thirst I have for writing.
Last year, I decided to revise these books, having had time to separate myself from the plots and characters. That sounds so la-di-dah doesn’t it but it is true – when you are so involved in the creation of a book, sometimes you cannot see the bigger picture. I started writing this when I had never written before, never creatively anyway, and as aforementioned my girl was only a newborn at the time. Yet this story begged me to tell it, begged me to keep telling it…
What I wanted to do with these stories was create a world to escape into, yet not so far removed from our own. I truly love reading and writing. I truly want people to enjoy these books. I relish any chance I get to read and escape, let a different world wash over me during a small window of time. It’s a luxury.
The enemy will continue to manifest itself in the other volumes. Why else do we read other than to have our pulses raised, our hearts pierced and our minds challenged…?
If you liked this book, please remember ‒ I’m an Indie author who relies heavily on reviews, word of mouth and hopefully ‒ you buying more of my books! Don’t hesitate to get in touch or write a review and let me know it’s there! Thanks xxx
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My early readers are par
tly responsible for this even being written. Yeah, you have that on your heads now! They are mostly responsible for me writing more novels afterwards! Firstly my husband Andrew, you gave me faith. When I saw the reaction on your face after reading my very first drafts… I needed you like I needed air sometimes. Self-critique is essential for a writer and can also be a killer of them too! To Mum, Gemma, Nina, Rachel, Sarah J (for that beach picture with you holding the book), Peter, Matthew, Steve W, Steve C, Blake, Andrew C, Angie (my incredible “non-reader” who got into this so fervently), you all helped in ways you don’t even know how. Just being interested in someone’s writing makes you all heroes! There are others and they know who they are. To my fellow writer Mandy who “always believed” I will always believe in you too. Unconditional belief is rare and beautiful. Thank you.
The story is not over yet… far from it.