The World Lies

A Good Fire

Zyon tossed and turned in his bed, his mind unable to fully rest as he replayed the events of the day in his head. Thoughts raced through his mind as he pondered the unusual experience. "I smiled?" he wondered, a hint of confusion in his voice. "And I laughed? When was the last time that happened?" Memories from the day floated in his mind like a series of moments captured on film – the elderly lady, Elena's sarcastic comments, his own unexpected laughter.

Amidst the flood of thoughts and memories, Zyon found himself struggling to grasp his emotions from the past. The question lingered in his mind, haunting him like a distant echo. "Was I happy? Sad?" he contemplated internally, his gaze lost in the darkness. But no matter how hard he tried, the feeling remained elusive. Only fragments of places and actions remained, as if the emotional context had been erased from his mind. 

Frustration and anger began to bubble within Zyon as he dwelled on the past. Question after question flooded his mind, each one more vexing than the last. Why had he lost his emotions? Why had today been so different? The more he thought about it, the more his confusion and anger grew, like a knot in his chest slowly becoming tighter and tighter. 

Hours went by and Zyon's mind refused to shut down. In a bid to distract himself, he decided to get up and head to the kitchen for a glass of water. As he cracked open the door, he was surprised to find the kitchen light on, casting a soft glow into the hallway.Curiously, he approached the kitchen, only to discover Emmit standing there. Zyon moved quietly, careful not to startle the young boy. 

Emmit's head shot up when he sensed someone's presence, his eyes widening with surprise. But when he realised it was just Zyon, his tension eased slightly, replaced by a mixture of weariness and determination. Zyon leaned against the kitchen counter, his arms crossed in front of his chest as he observed the young boy. "What are you doing up so late?" he asked gently. His voice held a hint of curiosity and concern. 

Zyon noticed the redness and puffiness around Emmit's eyes, clearly indicating that he had been crying. Emmit's words further confirmed Zyon's suspicion. "I had a nightmare," he explained, his voice trembling with emotion. Emmit rubbed his eyes furiously as fresh tears welled up in them. "I didn't want to wake up Lena so I went to get some water," he continued. "That's what Lena always does for me and gives me a kiss." 

Zyon's expression softened as he listened to Emmit's explanation, feeling a pang of sympathy for the young boy's distress. He pushed himself away from the counter and walked over to Emmit's side. "I see," Zyon replied quietly, crouching down to come face-to-face with Emmit. He hesitated for a moment before carefully placing a hand on the young boy's shoulder. "It's okay to be afraid sometimes," Zyon reassured him, his voice gentle and understanding. "But it's important to remember that it was just a nightmare. It's not real." He gently squeezed Emmit's shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort. 

Zyon could see that Emmit was still shaken by the nightmare, so he suggested finding Elena instead to provide support. But Emmit protested against the idea, refusing adamantly. Seeing the boy's distress, Zyon quickly changed tactics. He offered, "Alright, if you don't want to wake up Elena just yet, why don't you stay with me in my room then. I'll keep you company." Emmit nodded in agreement, clearly relieved by the suggestion. 

Zyon had kept a watchful eye on Emmit in his room as the young boy slowly drifted off to sleep. With the rising sun, the first tendrils of daylight began seeping through the room's curtains. Zyon was still awake. Keeping true to his word, Zyon had stayed awake, occasionally glancing over to ensure Emmit was alright. His eyes darted back and forth between his book and the sleeping child.

Zyon heard the sounds of movement coming from the other rooms in the house. He reluctantly put his book aside and stepped out of his room to find Elena. Elena's voice was filled with panic as she asked, "Chris, have you seen Emmit?" Without a word, Zyon responded with a soft smile, gesturing towards his room where Emmit lay asleep, still peacefully tucked into the bed. "Oh thank goodness." Elena sighed with relief as she saw Emmit resting in Zyon's room. She approached gently, not wanting to disturb the sleeping child. Zyon moved closer to her, a mixture of relief and tiredness in his expression. "He had a nightmare," he explained quietly, "so I offered to let him sleep in here." She turned her gaze towards Zyon and could see the traces of exhaustion etched onto his face. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her genuine concern evident in her voice. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, trying to play it cool. He leaned against the doorframe lazily, his eyes still fixed on the sleeping child.  "Just get some rest," she suggested. "We're going to the town square tonight. Harvey told me they're having a welcome ceremony for all of the newcomers." Zyon chuckled tiredly, his words carrying a tinge of mock accusation. "You should be the one talking," he quipped, gesturing towards her.