Running On Empty

Chapter 10~ Jaylin

When I opened my eyes, Silya was still asleep but this time, her head was on my shoulder. She looked so cute when she was snoring softly. I wish I would have found some way to make time stop because right then, there was nowhere else in the world I wanted to be but beside her.

What was this feeling? It made me feel like I was glowing and very soft.

On the table there was rectangle object that had me and Silya on it, sleeping together...

Wait....WHAT?!!!!!

Why was this here? What if she saw it and started thinking of things the wrong way. I was simply her friend that just met her a few weeks ago. It wouldn't be right if I kept a picture of the two of us...right? How did this get taken? What if she hated me for doing something like this? But this....this is our first picture.

My first memory of her is her sleeping by my side...crap...it makes me extremely happy

I reached out my hand and snatched the picture as quickly as I could off the table.

This was what "treasuring" meant. Of course, it was, there was no other way to explain the flushed up hotness that overcame me and there was also that tight feeling in my chest.

I wanted to keep this for me and only me. It couldn't have been so unlike me than it already was.

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"What is the tall long stick with the green cloud?" I pointed out to a big group of tall sticks to Silya.

"You weirdo, those are called trees. I told you before, right?" Silya shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes at me. She looked a Madeline and Garrett, who in the middle of unpacking the trailer. Then she looked back at me. Her brown eyes looked dazed, like she was in another world.

"Silya, can we go over there? There's a stick hanging out of the ground," I made myself sit up straight in my wheelchair. Silya smiled slightly as she pushed me to that stick.

"I think that this called a water pump. It is usually used to get water out of the ground or from a long tube that comes from somewhere else. You push up and down on that lever that is the red thing." She knelt down next to me, and smiled at me, "Wanna give it a try, Jaylin?"

She pushed me slightly closer so that I could touch the lever. It looked pretty rusty and the red paint was already chipping away. I leaned towards the left side of my body and gripped the lever as tightly as I could. It was like my arms suddenly had a mind of its own when I felt myself pushing up and down in a swift motion. Water came gushing out, turning the rocks into a very dark grey color.

"Here, let me pump, and then you put your hand under there. I heard that it feels good."

I let go of the lever and put my hands right under there without another thought. It did feel good, really good. It was cold, wet, slippery and very clear. I knew what water had felt like at home when I bathed. I knew what rain water felt like and now... I knew what camping water felt like as I cupped my hands and the water slipped through the crack of my hands. I never knew water felt like this, refreshing and clean.

"It feels so cool," I chuckled, "you were right, Silya."

"I'm glad that you like it." She got off her knees and walked over to Madeline and Garrett. She was smiling and talking to them so easily. I noticed that Madeline also looked as if she had gotten used Silya. Her frowns disappeared and there seemed to be a pleasant face that appeared whenever Silya talked to her. Garrett was the same as usual, always keeping quiet and busy. Even when Madison and Garrett were getting older, they still did all they could to help me. Of course, I was the "Young Master" to them so, it was their job to look after me. Nothing would change about that. Silya carried some boxes out that looked quite heave. In there, I could see things that were used for cooking in a kitchen. There was a pan, plastic silverware, coffee mugs, slotted spoon, knives, plates, cups, and so much more. I offered to help with anything a few times, but the three of them said that they had gotten the hang of it and told me to relax. It was not fun, watching the three of them do things while I sat in my wheelchair "relaxing" and doing nothing at all.