How Mia Met Gulliver

-2-

Sunday

April 19

2020

At first, he feels someone nudging him on the shoulder. Ugh...who's there... He groans and tries to open his eyes, but he is met with a bright, painful light. A soft voice seems to be calling for him...is that Lily?

"Hrmmmph..." he mutters, closing his eyes again. "No, Lily...go away..."

Is it my turn now? I thought I just steered... Whoever this is could do it themselves. For some reason, there seems to be something grainy in his mouth. He coughs a little in an attempt to get it out. Just one more minute, okay? One more minute...

...

The next thing he knows, the voice is still speaking. Someone is tapping him on both shoulders and his left cheek. This is not the soft touch of Lily's wing...it all seems so different. He tries to pry his eyes open, but his eyelids are too heavy.

"Leave me alone..." he grumbles. "Please..."

The voice...why is it still here? It sounds like a young woman...someone he doesn't know at all. He is too exhausted to move, or comprehend what she's saying. Can't you see I need my sleep? Yet the words...the tapping...it all continues, still persistent. Eventually, it all drifts to the back of his mind before turning into nothingness.

...

As he comes to, he senses something cool and soft on his forehead. The familiar voice rings through the air...that of the woman again. I thought you would leave... His brain is still fuzzy, but this time he can finally begin to make out her words.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

Yes...now go away... he wants to tell her, but he only groans in response. Whatever was on his head is no longer there, and he manages to open his eyes halfway through the blinding light. Am I outside...? What's going on? He raises his head from the ground, only slightly, to possibly take a look...but everything is a blur. 

"Oh, thank goodness!" she cries out. "Hey there, sir...are you alright?"

He groans again, unable to find an answer. As he places his head back down, he realizes the ground is softer than he remembered. Is that...sand? His feet seem to be a little wet, as if they are sticking into a puddle of water.

"Okay, take it easy now. You're gonna be fine."

"Really...?" he mumbles, rubbing his eyes. "Wh...where am I?"

"You're on my beach. Looks like you may have washed up here."

Washed up? That doesn't sound right...he hasn't done that in a long time. Although, it would explain quite a lot.

"I did...?" he asks, letting a bit more sand fall from his mouth.

"Yeah, that's my best guess," she replies. "Here, can you sit up? I don't want you falling asleep yet again."

"Okay...I'll try. Gimme a second."

He slowly puts his wings in the sand and pulls himself up to his knees, before sitting on his bottom. How long did it take her to wake me up? The light is still bothersome, but now he can make out this mysterious woman, who has taken a seat in front of him. She looks about in her twenties, with short brown hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. He glances at her outfit, which consists of a white shirt, beige knit sweater, and black miniskirt.