My Darling Girl

 My Darling Girl,

I'm sorry.

    I'm sorry I won't be there to see you grow into the incredible woman I know you'll become. I'm sorry I won't be able to take you on your first moonlit walk through the Elderwood, where the trees feel like they're breathing with you, or teach you the names of the plants growing wild at the edge of the creek. And I'm sorry I won't be able to sit beside you, sharing tea and laughter as you grow from such a beautiful little girl into a Witch worthy of your birthright.

    I wish more than anything that I could stay, but the task before me is one that I cannot turn my back on. It's a responsibility I've shouldered because it's the right thing to do, even if it means I may never come home to Hexham County again. There are forces in the world—forces you can't see yet, but will come to know—that demand attention. Sometimes, those of us with the Understanding and the Power have to step into places other folks are too afraid to go. That's what I'm doing right now.

    I won't pretend I'm not scared. Always remember: it's okay to be scared. Even after all these years of practice, the unknown is terrifying. But fear is not a reason to shy away from what must be done. Fear is the reason we move forward. They'll teach you a lot of things about Witchcraft, but it's not just about spells and rituals. It's about understanding the delicate balances of nature and life and everything—and stepping up to set things right when they fall out of harmony.

    You're so young, and I can feel the weight of the world pressing on your shoulders even now. They'll tell you there's no such thing as Magic, and they'll laugh when you dare to believe otherwise; but we both know better. Magic is woven into the fabric of everything around us. It's in the wind that stirs the leaves and in the glint of the stars on a clear night. Even in the stupid things like automobiles and laptop computers and smartphones. And it's in you.

    There's magic in your blood and bones and your every breath.

    You've always had it in you, even when you were too small to wonder. And you will grow into it in your own time. I'm sure of that. So when your Uncle John says you're "just imagining things" or tries to convince you you're "too soft for the real world," you remember this: he doesn't know the first thing about actual Strength. Don't listen to that windbag; you are too powerful, and you will prove it in ways he could never even dream of.

    It won't be easy, though. Being a Witch means living in a world that often refuses to believe in you, that may be hostile or dismissive. People may try to pull you in directions that don't feel right, to dim your light, to stifle the Magic within you. That's when you'll have to make a choice. You'll have to decide whether you'll conform to a world that wants you to be small or if you'll carve out space for yourself, no matter the cost. I know what choice you'll make, and I'm proud of you already.

    There will come a time when you have to stand against injustice, to speak out when others are silent, and to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Magic, REAL MAGIC, is about this—not spells or miracles. It's about using your power—whether your words, your mind, your spirit, or even just your hands—to change the world for the better. Just because the world is full of darkness doesn't mean we surrender to it. Witches have always been the ones to stand in the breach, to bring light where there was none.

    It's a heavy burden, but you won't carry it alone. I can't be with you in person, but I will always be there in Spirit. The ancestors all walk with you, and there are others out there—friends, allies, maybe even a Coven of your own—who'll stand by your side when the time comes. You'll find your own way, but remember that none of us are meant to walk this path alone. Find your people, trust them. But most importantly, trust yourself.

    I hope more than anything that you'll live your life with courage and with kindness. The world will test you, but you'll be stronger for it. Be brave enough to love, even when the world tries to make you hard. Be wise enough to listen, even when they're shouting you down. And never forget that the Magic in you is your greatest gift—not because it allows you to do such wondrous things, but because it connects you to the Heart of Everything.

    I don't know where this road will lead me, but I want you to know that I'm walking it with the certainty that you'll be alright. Better than alright—you'll be extraordinary. I only wish I could be there to see it all unfold.

    Be kind to yourself, my Love. Be fierce when the world demands it, and don't ever stop believing in the Magic within you.

With all my Love,

Grandmother Jane

P.S. When the time comes, check the locked trunk in the attic. There's something there for you—something that belonged to me, and now is yours. Just don't let your mother catch you digging around up there. You know how she is.