Page 78 - NS 2024

was meant to cleanse themselves in the eyes of the Almighty from the sin that their cycle represented. They all knew what was expected of them during the Journey, but none of them knew exactly what would happen once they got to the island. Their only job for the entire week of the Journey was to fully devote themselves to the Almighty. If they proved their devotion, they would receive the Blessing of the Flower from the Almighty, signifying that they could carry out their duty as a woman – childbirth. If a girl did not receive a flower, but was still
4
The boats slowly drifted to the docks on the Ashen Island and Lyssa’s pulse quickened. The men guiding the boats tied them to the docks and helped the young girls disembark. None of the men spoke as the girls stepped onto the narrow wooden docks one by one. There was no grand speech made, no sermon preached. Once the last girl stepped off the boats, they were gone. The girls stood and watched them go. No one made any movement, not until the last boat faded from view, swallowed by the forming mist.
At last, one of the older girls turned and started to walk towards the shore. The rest of the girls followed suit, more afraid of being left alone than the mystery of the island. There was a small, white sand beach that melted into the surging tide. Farther inland, were sprawling fields of white and green. Paths were cut through the flowering fields and led to a large house at the top of a small hill. The girls slowly made their way up to the house, trying to ignore the childish call to stray from the path and wander through the beauty of the untouched flowers. Lyssa gazed at the fragrant flowers that lined the path near her feet and realized that there were dozens of species of flowers, surely ones that could not grow together. It struck her as unnatural and unsettled her. She
a devoted follower of the Almighty, she could live at a church and care for orphans, since she could not have children of her own.