The Runaway

Chapter 42

I'm tired of this, of the walking, the climbing, going into hotels and fearing for my safety. I'm sick of not knowing what to say anymore, sick of watching myself deteriorate. When will the pain end? When will I be home?

When will my companion not be gloomy? When will he ever smile or let me know him more? Sure, I know some things... He is still a stranger. A man I know so little about, his hobbies, things he likes or dislikes.

The sea of trees will never end. The land will forever go on and new hills form with each step. The days pass as my sickness grows. My poor, poor parents. They must be lying in bed, crying their little hearts out as I just sit here.

They're suffering as I sit here, on my dress, crisscrossed, next to a sleeping friend who is laying on my lap as I ruffle his hair. I wish I could tell my parents where I am, or that I'm coming to them.

Didn't know the kingdoms were so far away from each other. Why couldn't I get kidnapped by a closer kingdom? I'm never leaving the kingdom walls again, for as long as I live.

Oh, his hair is soft. It isn't fair. The tingling made my fingers numb. Little bubbles move in my arms. How has he not awakened? The sun is blinding as ever, the air is too humid.

"Wake up, sir."

I could roll him off of me like he did me, but I shall not since the ground is mud. He didn't push me into the mud.

"Come on, my legs are numb because of you."

He keeps himself pressed against my stomach, without a care in the world. This is ridiculous. I drag my finger from the middle of his hairline, down his forehead and down to the tip of his nose before booping him. The tingles burn my finger, intertwining itself through my hand and crawling up my arm. His eyelids pop open as he stares at me, scaring me. He stays silent.

"I thought you died."

He flicks my nose before sitting up and looking around like tired people do.

"My legs can move now."

He gets up, grabs my wrist and pulls me up. It's so hard to stand with numb legs, how will I walk? Standing here is already hard.

"I think I'm out of commission for a while, sorry."

"Why?"

"My legs are numb."

He shakes his head before taking my dress off the ground and rolling it up, all the mud inward. I wiggle my feet but to no avail, it makes me want to fall over.

"Who even thought of this?"

He turns to look at me, annoyance all over his face. He isn't talking much. To be fair, he just woke up. I should have flicked his nose to wake him up instead.

"How was your nap?" He shrugs. "Are you alright?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Are you sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're not talking?"

"I'm mute. Do you know how hard it is to talk regularly after living in silence for seven years?"

"No."

He nods before putting the lifeless dress in the bag, throwing the bag over his shoulder and grabbing my hand to pull me along up the hill. My wobbly legs beg to differ, but I have to get away from here.

It's been too long in that spot, almost a day. The panic only grows from now. I have to get home as soon as possible... Thinking about this will only trouble me.