Free Determination by Angela B. Macala-Guajardo Page B

beamed at Roxie, who couldn’t help but smile back. That was the smile she wanted to see.
    Sekiro unhappily said, “We’re headed to her mom next. It won’t be a pretty sight.” She fell quiet but continued to stare intently at Asiyah, who then nodded.
    “Charles, that is something Roxie needs to do alone.”
    Dad considered Roxie with a thoughtful glance, then turned back to his Numina and said, “I understand. I would like to take her to one place before we part ways. Would that be alright?”
    “Where did you have in mind?” Asiyah said.
    “A nice altar. This is for me.”
    He thought a moment. “Follow me.” He began walking down the highway, back towards the heart of Buffalo. Sekiro hurried to walk beside Asiyah, then fell in step with him, their transparent wings swaying and bouncing with their purposeful strides.
    Dad held out an arm. Roxie laced her arm in his like a lady holding on to her gentleman and they followed the Numina.
    “I love you, Roxie,” Dad said. “Very much. I’m so grateful to have this chance to let you know that.”
    “Me, too. I love you, too.” Her words came out thin as her throat constricted with tears. There was a huge difference between implicitly knowing and actually hearing him declare his love for her, the latter having such a powerful impact. She rested her head on his shoulder and he squeezed her hand. They walked on, the tapping of their shoes filling the air, Roxie’s having a light metallic clink every time her heels touched the ground.
    “I know what you are by the way.”
    Roxie straightened up but still held on. “How... when?”
    “I didn’t know until right before I died, that you aren’t only human, that you’re also an Aigis. I’m not sure how to explain it. The instant before my soul left Earth’s physical plane lasted more than an instant somehow. Someone named Baku spoke to me, revealed the truth about you to me. He thought I had a right to know.”
    The lighting darkened. They stood next to wooden double doors inside a vaulted church. The Numina were nowhere in sight, but this didn’t alarm Roxie. She had a feeling they were nearby, watching over them.
    The church looked like a piece of a memory or dream. Some details were easy to see. The rest was lost in gloom. The deep red carpet leading up to the altar was plain to see, as were the dozens of pews on either side. The carpet sprawled over several marble steps and ended at the base of a marble altar. Behind it stood a giant window where the sun shined through. To either side of the pews was darkness, and the ceiling was lost in darkness as well, as if both spaces weren’t important enough to be made visible. Dad began leading her down the aisle at a leisurely stroll.
    “I guess you could say I met God. He appeared before me, looking just like me, which I found fitting. I wonder if he’d look like you if you saw him.”
    Roxie remembered Baku being an older man with blue eyes, short hair, and a matching goatee, and a sweet smile. That appearance suited her expectations. Baku’s eyes had a shine in them that let the beholder know he possessed divine wisdom. On top of that, his presence had an aura of focus and being grounded that no mere mortal could achieve. He was godly, even though he acted and looked perfectly human.
    “But anyway, he told me what an Aigis is, what your purpose is, what tasks and dangers you have before you, and what my role was in the creation of you. I’m honored to have been a part of your creation. Even though I was never there for you, knowing that I helped bring you into this universe brings me peace. Your mother and I were chosen to conceive you. It makes me proud to see you now. I’m sure your mother is just as proud.”
    They reached the bottom steps leading to the altar and the white marble gleamed under the sun rays, casting a golden halo around Dad. For once his body felt only cold, instead of freezing. It was almost comforting to hold onto him.
    “I’m