She shivered, yet her skin was burning; holding her small frame against me, I felt defeated. She had been doing so well since she was found. She was sleeping sound, she was regaining the blush to her cheeks, and her heart was no longer weak to my ears.
And now this. A sudden plummet into danger.
"Toxins," my father says from the doorway. Before long, he stands beside the bed. His fingers tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "The goblins arrow must have been coated in them."
"What can I do about it?" I ask; desperation is clear in my words. "What must I do to help her?"
"Wait."
His single word felt like a dagger wound. I hated the finality it carried. "I cannot watch her suffer, see if the toxins take her. I cannot wait for fate to make up its mind!"
"Then love her dearly, with whatever time you have left with her." His eyes met mine. "If that be a moment or a lifetime. You must cherish it. There is little else that can be done in this second. You've done all that can be done." He bows slightly before leaving the room.
I cannot wait. The thought alone is agony to me. But what else is there to do? If my father knows more about humans than I do, it is obvious he is not willing to elaborate. Why must humans be such complex creatures? Why must they be fragile, and soft? And irresistible to the heart?
"You look better now that you're not blurry."
I meet the grey eyes of the human in my arms; though she shakes in chills, she smiles at me.
"And I only wish you were doing better," I manage, pulling the blankets around her. "And that you'd stop scaring me so."
"I'm sorry," she whispers. With shaking hands, her fingers gently touch my cheek. They're soft against my skin, and I cannot help but close my eyes at her touch. "I'll promise I'll get better," I hear her say.
Leaning forward, I press my forehead to hers. "And I promise I will be here every moment. By your side."
Her hands hold my face gently. In the moment, I believe her shivering lightens, but I'm not entirely sure. "Thank you."
"Now get better."
"I will."
YOU ARE READING
365
Non-FictionI had this idea last night after a few drinks, a pounding headache, and an excessive amount of throat lozenges. In order to inspire me to write more often than I currently do, I am planning to write a new post every day and publish it, allowing me t...
