Phoenix of Dawn

Bury

Social tact was something I'd gone without for years and even before that I'd been taught to be social in such a twisted way. Fight or die. That was the extent of my social interactions. I couldn't remember the last time I was surrounded by so many allies. I couldn't remember the last time I felt safe and to be honest even being underground in a secret base with a bunch of people who wanted to protect me... I still didn't feel safe. None of that really mattered though the moment the doctor let me back to see my aunt.

The smell of antiseptic and heavy duty cleaners flooded my nostrils. The hospital wing was tucked in the back of the base but it was still pretty easy to navigate to. They'd had me wait in a clean white hall on a plastic chair for what felt like hours before they finally came to let me back.

Every inch of my body was coiled with anticipation and fear that what I'd see when I entered that room would only confirm what I had spent the entire journey worrying about.

She would be dead.

The gentleman with kind eyes opened the door for me to enter, whispering something about rest and patience and a whole lot of hope. I didn't really listen though because she was breathing, there was color in her cheeks and she was alive.

There wasn't anyone else with me when he dismissed himself and there was nothing stopping me from letting loose the tears I'd been hiding for days. My heart seemed to restrict with the pain it had been holding at bay as every inch of me was suddenly overrun with pain and anxiety. I was afraid to touch her, afraid to break the fragile balance her body had managed to create in order to start healing but I couldn't keep my shaking fingers from gripping her cool hand.

Her arm... her scent... her every familiar feature was like a life raft in the sorrowful waves that washed through me. I sat there buried in the crook of her arm for a long time just breathing her in until the tears stopped.

"You have to make it," I whispered, not even knowing if she could hear me, "I need you still... I'll always need you."

I'm not really sure how much time passed with me sitting there, my head resting on the blanket as I counted the lines in her palm. I tried to memorize the slender curve of her wrist or the softness of her skin under my rough hands. With my eyes closed I tried with all my might to send her every ounce of strength I could spare.

The warm tingle spread from the crown of my head and through my body just before the door creaked open. I didn't move, hoping that whoever it was would think I was asleep and leave us alone. I needed every second of time she had if she didn't come back to me.

The tingle practically burned at my back and I felt my irritation grow.

The weight of a hand landed on my shoulder and gently pulled, "Kyra, you should get some rest. She'll be fine in the meantime."

I lifted my head at the sound of Axel's voice to find him standing over me inspecting my Aunt's sleeping form. There was nothing I wanted more than to shove him out and keep her to myself for several hours more.

"I'm good here."

With my arms to the sky in a life altering stretch I tried my best to ignore him till he left me alone but there was no such luck.

"Come on," He tapped my shoulder again and headed for the door in that way that again reminded me he was used to leading.

"I said I was fine here."

"Kyra," He hissed, "Stop being difficult and just let me--"

He stopped, his fingers raking through his already disheveled mess of hair. I was honestly waiting for him to start pulling it out. It was clear that he was sick of being around me so why he kept trying to handle me was a complete mystery. Where was his dark and beautiful girlfriend? Why wasn't he off... how had she put it? Catching up?