Leaving at First Light

On her last morning, Polly climbs to the watchtower one more time. Berta is already there. That is strange, because Berta hates climbing. Someone must check the sunrise, the marten says. They sit together on the old stones and watch.

The first light touches the tower. Then it moves down the wall and over the roofs. For a few minutes the whole town glows pink and gold. Far away in the meadows, Polly hears the sheep bells. Down below, the river holds the town in its loop, like always.

Berta says she does not like goodbyes. Then she says goodbye anyway. She gives Polly a dried fig for the journey. A town like this does not mind when you leave, she says. Leaving is the first half of coming back.

Polly flies from the tower and follows the river out through the gorge. Behind her, the pink town gets smaller and smaller. She keeps the fig for later. She will eat it far away, when she wants to remember this place.