The Rink of Time

Chapter Eight

Identify the things you care about, then protect them.

EMILY SOLARIS

I walk into the tent and spot him immediately, I mean it really wasn't such a hard task, it was kind of hard not to spot him. he's seemingly immersed in a deep slumber, which is unusual, but he doesn't seem to be sleeping very peacefully, which is wholly unlike him, I sit down beside him, carefully taking his hand in mine as I begin to rub circles gently on his palm.

I can feel the tension leave his body slowly but surely, my eyes never leave his face, he looks so disturbed, it hurts my heart.

Soon enough, his eyes flutter open and as if on instinct, he yanks his hand away from mine, ouch.

"What's wrong Lijah? is everything okay?" I ask him, silent tears streaming down my face uncontrollably, Elijah is the only one who has ever made me feel like I could be loved unconditionally since the incident, him acting this way worries me deeply. Is everything okay? is he tired of me just like my parents?

"No no no, I'm sorry sunshine" he sighs engulfing me in a hug. "Please don't cry, please don't cry" he mumbles repeatedly in my ear

"It was a dream babe, my hand was burning, I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry, I really didn't mean it" he keeps on apologizing.

All I really want right now is answers "Why did you yell at me today? Is everything okay? Or are you just tired of me?" I voice my concerns to him, terribly disturbed by the events that took place earlier today.

"Never, how can I be tired of you?" He asks, his violet eyes piercing my almost golden ones sadly with a small frown as he let go of the hug. "I love you, okay? I love us."

I nod at that.

"You won't believe me if I tell you what happened" he sighs.

"Try me"

"Well, when we were hanging out" he starts with a sigh "My vision just went pitch black, I thought I had gone blind, but blind people don't see pitch black, correct?"

"Correct" I agree with him urging him to continue.

"For a long period of time, I was in that state. and then suddenly it was like I fell into some sort of hypnosis, like a trance" he explains "I began see stars, Space as a whole, it was amazing Emily" he breathed out in contentment "it felt so unreal, yet real at the same time, it was like one of my dreams came to life, but I was so confused, I didn't understand how or what was happening." He paused for a second with a frown on his face before he continued. "That must have been when I yelled at you"

"I was scared, when it happened. I apologize if I raised my voice at you, all I could hear was distorted voices." He holds my hand and I listened attentively.

"I had regained my vision not long after, but you appeared to be gone, honestly sunshine, I was so scared, it gave me an awful migraine, I immediately returned to the tent to make an attempt at clearing my mind but then when I thought it was over, it reoccurred" he sighs "I don't know what to do. What if it comes back?" I can see the absolute fear filling his eyes, I wanted to say maybe it was his delusions or maybe he was daydreaming, I mean he does possess a lot of love for stargazing and astronomy so that could be why, but if I were to tell him that right now, it would only scare him more. I barely see Elijah this shaken.

I think it might have something to do with his insomnia though, I'll remind him to tell his therapist about it after the trip

"It's going to be okay" I mutter non-stop as I engulf him into a hug.

He pulls away and looks me straight in the eye "You know what would make me feel better?"

"What?" I ask and he smashes his lips onto mine.

"Maybe I should have knocked" we heard Dexter whistle and we pull away.

"Come on guys, we're playing hide and seek in the forest" he cheers.

"Are you guys sure that's a good idea?" Elijah directs this question to Dexter yet his eyes are still on me.

"We're waiting for you guys, 5 minutes!" he cheers walking outside and closing the tent.

"What?" I tilt my head and ask.

"Nothing" he looks away blushing

"No what?" I giggle, grabbing his face to look at me.

"I'm just a lucky guy, sunshine" he smiles.

"And I'm a lucky girl" I smile "I love you" I lean over and kiss him on the cheek

"I wish, my dear Emily, that it might be in my power by actions rather than by words to convince you that I love you" he smiles innocently at me and I find myself tilting my head yet again, confused at what he means.

Then the realization sets in "Elijah Starling" I hit him playfully and he chuckles standing up.

"Come on, let's go join the others outside" he reaches his hand out to me, which I take happily.