Facing The Sun

To See You, Wronged

Ivis finished the last of the stitches, and sighed; at last able to rest her cramping fingers.

Mother said that their newest patient took the blows for someone else. That they received punishment for a crime they didn't commit. Before sedating them, Ivis asked them why—and received the answer 'because I had too. I just did.' Ivis found that answer to be stupid. She figured they'd be a bigger help to whoever they were trying to protect if they were uninjured, and told her Mother such.

"I just don't understand how they could willingly do that." Said Ivis, scowling at the thought.

Her Mother turned her gaze to Ivis. "You will one day." She said, "I'd do it for you." She paused, knowing what she said still didn't make sense to Ivis, and spoke again. "When you find someone you care about, Ivis, you should never let them go. Cling to them, and if they tell you to let go, keep clinging until they make you." She spoke, her voice filled with raw emotion. "Because I let go, Ivy, and there's nothing I regret more."

~ * ~

If Ivis hadn't come to know what Vedrith was like, she would say that she looked fine, if not a little tense. However, Ivis knew what Vedrith was like—and Vedrith actually looked as if she was barely keeping it together.

And, chances were, she probably was.

"Vedrith?" Spoke Ivis, unsure if she was aware of her presence.

Vedrith flinched ever so slightly at the sound of her voice, and slowly glanced at her, before pressing a button on the control panel that made the holo screen blip away.

"We need to go back to Vitality." Said Vedrith, her voice strained. "Get in your seat."

Ivis blinked. "Right now?" She asked, a bit taken aback. "But we haven't said goodbye to anyone." She said, rather accustomed to the departure ritual bye now.

"Yes, now." Answered Vedrith, already starting to flick certain switches. "They'll be fine. We'll see them again eventually, anyway."

Ivis bit her lower lip, hesitating. This felt rushed. This felt wrong. Something was definitely wrong. "But they might—"

Sucking in a breath through her teeth, Vedrith gripped either side of her seat as her head snapped towards Ivis, meeting her eye with a look that was oh so familiar.

"Ivis, please." Vedrith whispered, her jaw clenched. Her eyes searched Ivis's, filled with pain, and Ivis flinched. Vedrith sighed, her gaze faltering. She lowered her head into her hands, fingers gripping short blonde strands of hair. "Sorry." She croaked. "You... you can stay here, if you want to. I can take you to—"

"Tell me what happened." Ivis interrupted, her gaze narrowing. She placed a hand on Vedrith's shoulder—hoping it would comfort Vedrith like it did Ivis in what felt like so long ago. "Tell me who hurt you."

Vedrith paused. "What?"

"I said to tell me what happened, and who hurt you." Ivis repeated, crossing her arms.

She turned her head back to Ivis, tilting it to the side. "I—no, I heard you, I was just stunned."

"Have I—what did you call it? Colored you something?"

"Colored me impressed?"

"Yes. That."

Vedrith chuckled. "I guess. Surprised would be more accurate, though."

Ivis stared at Vedrith, still waiting for her answer. She stared at her, waiting for a name, waiting for one word, one reason as to why she walked in on her, and found Vedrith hurt again for the second time that day. Once was more than enough.