Asclepius

Chapter 20: And the Healing has Begun

The sound of a water fountain trickles. My ears pick up on the calming sound as my brain registers it. The haze of thoughts missing begins to clear. I slowly feel my conscious connect to the present as I lay in the bed. It is a welcomed sound, that of water that my conscious is able to recognize coming out of a deep sleep. I turn my head to the sound. Light on the back of my closed eyelids registers as I feel the soft bedding neatly tucking me in.

      I take one more moment. I take time to recenter myself. How long have I been asleep? I slowly open my eyes. My head is pounding. Even the light, which seemed so inviting when my eyes were closed is harsh and bitter. I sit up squinting as I survey my room.

   White linen on a white hospital bed greets me. I look to my right and see Ares in the matching bed beside me. His scars are on full display. His chest is bandaged. My thought goes to the potential of the scars that could form from whatever is under those bandages. What will Ares think of those scars?

     I look down at his sleeping face. In rest, Ares finds peace. The scowl of a man with the world on his shoulders is gone. It is replaced by the innocence of a child. He looks like nothing more than a young man without any care in the world. My hand begins to move toward him. How much I long to trace that perfectly flawed scar on his cheek. I let out a sigh.

     Ares begins to stir. I feel my heart take flight knowing that he might wake up soon. I lay back down. My eyes never leave his face. He clears his throat and then opens his eyes. His scars slowly fade and are hidden again behind the perfectly sculpted jawline of a god.

     Ares looks over at me and our eyes meet. I let out a small smile.

      "Good morning, sunshine," I comment.

"Good morning, my goddess," replies Ares.

     His raspy voice leads me to believe he has not used it in a while. His tousled hair flicks to the side as he inclines his head toward me. He returns my smile. I get up from my bed and go to him. As I rise out of bed, I realize all too soon my mistake as I topple over to the ground.

     "Galene, are you ok?"

     I look up at Ares. Concern etches his face. Quickly he rises to get out of bed. I notice the uneasy way he moves.

    "No!" I yell, but it is too late.

Ares's first step quivers. The quick rise in him causes him to hold on to his side. As he keels over, his knees find the floor in front of me. I watch him as his face contorts into pain.

  In my now seated position on the floor, I help guide him down to me. I help him find a position that is comfortable for him.

"Some gods we are," comments Ares through gritted teeth.

Through the dizziness and fatigue, I begin to laugh. His words are funny to me, but the lack of presence in my mind makes it even more funny. My laugh echoes through every fiber of my being. Ares looks at me with concern.

  "Is your head still bothering you?"

He asks as his fingers begin to glide across my hairline. I watch his eyes study me. I watch them look for any small inclusion that could warrant more care. His concern takes the edge off of my giggle fit. 

"No," I manage to get out between laughs.
It takes me a few more laughs before I can express myself fully.

"You are right. We are these gods... We are these powerful immortal beings and we can't even walk two steps," I reply. "I fell... then you fell."

   I hear a low chuckle of a laugh rise from Ares. He begins to laugh harder until his injury to his torso causes him to stop. He winces in pain as his body keels closer to the floor. I stop my laugh and focus on him.