Sands Of Time

Confessions By Candlelight

It was dark. Much darker than I expected as I stepped inside the threshold of Bruno's room. I closed the door behind me and let my eyes adjust, trying to find any glimmer of light within the room. It took a minute but soon I was able to tell there was a second doorway in front of me. It was shaped like a bottom heavy hourglass. The Madrigals sure did like their themes. I gingerly stepped through and noticed that the floor went from tiled to wood. The air was dry and suddenly the sandy smell in Bruno's hair was no longer a mystery. I stepped further in and a staircase loomed before me. Standing next to it was a large rock in the shape of a pointing hand. It's index reaching towards the ceiling with 'Your Future Awaits' written in large letters on the palm. My gaze followed where the finger pointed and suddenly I understood why it took so long for Bruno to come out of his room. I had never actually gone into the rooms before. My head swam at how much bigger it was on the inside. How did this all fit inside the tower? I had to remind myself that magic works differently than the rest of the world as I attempted to steady my breathing. The next step I took was thrown off by the sand granules on the floor and I lost my footing for a moment. A gasp of surprise ripped through the silent tower of stone and echoed off the walls. I managed to keep my feet somehow, as well as keep from spilling any of the food on the plate. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"¿Quién está ahí?" The voice called out from far above. The sound of creaking wood and then quick footsteps on stone reverberated against the cavernous room.

"Bruno? It's just me." I looked up and watched as the light from a candle made its way down the long ramp of stairs. I heard him say my name questioningly.

"How-how did you get in here?" He was getting closer and I could see his shape outlined in the darkness, barely lit by the small flame he held. He looked much thinner than before, and that's when I realized he wasn't wearing his ruana.

"Your house let me in." The flame stopped short at the last few steps. You could see him better now. His maroon shirt hung against his thin frame like it was a size too big. The sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows just like he had them the day before. His hair was a little more rumpled than before and though it was hard to see in this light, his eyes seemed to be lined with red. He turned to look around his room as he spoke.

"¿Qué demonios, Casita?" The room was quiet in response and Bruno let out a sigh. His tired eyes looked back at me. "Are you here to yell at me some more-what is that?" He noticed the plate of food in my hand. I held it out to him, and he took the last few steps cautiously.

"Julieta had brought it up for you and left it at the door. I wanted to make sure you got it." He tentatively took the plate from my hand. "Peace offering?" He looked at the plate then back to me, nodding slowly.

"Well, you're here. Want to come up?" He turned and started walking back up the stairs without waiting for my answer. The quiet slap of his chanclas against the bottom of his feet as he walked were magnified by the silence in the grand space of his room. I realized I was falling behind and rushed to follow him. I didn't really want to climb the stairs in the dark.

"So..." I tried making polite conversation, the silence was starting to feel a little crushing. "You walk these stairs every day?"

"Yup." His answer was short and to the point. I couldn't tell if he was still mad at me for how I had treated him or if he was just tired.

"Do you at least have a bathroom up there?" Curiosity getting the better of me as I blurted out the question.

"No." He stopped, turned to look at me and I faltered to a halt. "If you are asking cause you need to use one, you may as well turn ar-"

"No, no I'm okay." I could feel my cheeks warm a little under his gaze. He raised an eyebrow at me and shrugged before turning around and continuing the trek up the stairs. I followed quietly this time and soon we made it to a plateau. Before us was a wooden rope bridge and I watched as Bruno walked across it without hesitation. I, however, looked carefully at it as I took a cautious step. The wood creaked and groaned under my weight. I glanced up to see if Bruno had continued on without me, but he stood there on the other side of the bridge waiting.