Blessed By The Moon

Chapter 54

The hospital wing was too quiet, the kind of quiet that made every footstep echo like a shout. I hesitated at Uriah's door, because I couldn't heal him, my fingers hovering just above the handle, but I forced myself inside.

The room was dim, but warm. Jenny was sitting in a chair at his bedside, her dark hair tied back messily, her head resting on her folded arms. She must have been keeping vigil since they'd brought him in. Uriah looked tired but alive, propped up against pillows, his chest rising steadily now instead of ragged.

When Jenny noticed me, she straightened immediately, forcing a smile despite her exhaustion. "May," she said softly. "I was wondering when you'd sneak in."

I smiled faintly, stepping closer. "Didn't want to bother anyone."

Uriah's eyes cracked open, bleary but sharp enough to focus on me. His grin was crooked and tired, but still very him. "Look who it is. Thought maybe you'd finally come to finish me off, settle the score."

I laughed despite myself, rolling my eyes. "Don't tempt me, I might change my mind, if only to never listen to your music taste again."

He chuckled weakly, and Jenny swatted at his arm with a tired glare. "Don't joke like that."

"What?" Uriah rasped, still smirking. "If I can't joke about almost dying, what can I joke about?"

Jenny groaned and covered her face with her hands. "I swear, he's worse when he's injured."

I shook my head, moving closer to the bed. "You look terrible."

"Thanks," Uriah shot back without missing a beat. "And here I thought I was glowing."

Jenny rolled her eyes, but there was love in it.

"Seriously though," I said more softly, placing my hand lightly over his. "I'm glad you're still here."

His grin softened. "Me too, glad you don't hate me anymore, or blame me for everything." He let out a slow breath, glancing toward his wife in the corner of the room, who was sleeping quietly. "I've got people who would've killed me themselves if I didn't pull through."

"Exactly," I said, smiling. "Better they keep you alive just so they can yell at you."

Jenny chuckled softly, the exhaustion lifting from her face for a moment. "You have no idea how true that is, if he risks his life again she might as well cripple him just so he never moves again."

For a moment, it felt almost normal, like we weren't surrounded by the wreckage of a war, like the world hadn't nearly ended around us. Just friends teasing each other in a hospital room.

But the reality pressed back in, heavy and unavoidable. I pulled my hand away and straightened, my smile faltering. 

Jenny stated as if she knew what I was going to say. "You came to say goodbye."

Damn oracles.

I nodded. "There are things I have to do, and people I need to let go of. I just... I didn't want to leave without seeing you."

Uriah blinked at me, something serious slipping into his tired expression. "May, what about Axe?"

"He knows, we talked." I said quickly, forcing a smile. "I'll visit."

Jenny studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Thank you for coming."

"Always," I whispered, backing toward the door. "Take care of them."

Jenny gave me a wry smile. "I always do."

"Too well," Uriah muttered, which earned him another swat on the arm and a laugh from both of us.