In the Span of a Breath

Chapter 5

His eyes snapped open and his breath came in wet harsh puffs as the setting sun lit his room with a red hue. Erin stared off into space as he tried to slow his breath while chasing off the reoccurring nightmare. When his breath came at a more even pace he rolled over clenching his jaw against the stiff pain of his mending skin. Once sitting up he reached for the pain medicine and water sitting on his bedside table. Sighing he popped his dose and chugged down the water. Taking a preparation breath and holding it Erin stood as gingerly as he could manage. With the use of the wall the Korean-American teen slowly made his way into the kitchen following the sweet smell in the air.

"Mom, did you made steamed buns?" His voice cracked as he came around the corner but a small excited smile curled his lips.

His mother's head shot up from where it was down reading a book. She smiled brightly but the worry for her son could be seen in the tension around her eyes. "Your meds might make you a bit queasy but you have to eat. So I made something light and if it happens to be one of your favorites then, well, that is just a coincidence." She stood and swept through the room, pulling out a chair for her son. "Here have a seat. I'll fix you a plate and a drink."

Erin made his way to the table and started to sit slowly but his socked foot slipped on the tile causing his back to slam into the wooden chair. Hissing through his teeth he jerked forward, looking down at the table trying to will away the tears he could feel burning his eyes and blurring his vision. He felt the small cool hands of his mother lay gently on his forearm. He heard the concern in her voice but couldn't respond to any of her questions, so focused on dealing with the pain. Her hands stoked his arm then a soft kiss to his forehead and she was gone. The teen slowly breathed out as the roaring pain finally faded back to something more manageable. He looked up and met his father's passive gaze. He hadn't even realized his dad came in.

"Alright?" The older man asked gruffly.

Nodding Erin straightened his back testing the soreness and found he was able to sit up nearly straight before the stretch was too much. His father nodded and turned back to return to his home office. His mother came from behind him chattering about something that happened at the restaurant she was chef and owner of. His mother, he knew, was deflecting in order to distract Erin and herself from the elephant in the room. They probably would never talk about what happened and steadfastly ignore everything pertaining to the wounds marring his back. Honestly he was grateful for it.

"Oh! I put the new dessert you helped me with on the menu today!" His mother said cheerfully, setting down his plate and a large glass of water.

"And how did it do?" Erin asked, his voice still a little sleep rough.

"I don't know. I think people are a bit worried it might make them addicts." The warmth of her laughter wrapped around him and made him smile as he bit into the most amazing buns ever.

After eating Erin found himself still sitting at the table getting a bit drowsy. The medicine he'd taken finally started kicking in and as much as he wanted to climb into bed, he did have make up work to complete. His mother brought his books and computer to him after clearing his plate. Humming, Erin jumped right into all the work his missed over the two weeks he was recuperating. The next thing he knew he was being shaken awake by his father.

"Erin. You'll hurt your back bent over like that. Your mother checked your stitches and luckily you didn't rip any."

Muttering, still half asleep Erin sat up, the pain barely registering in his medicated sleepy brain. He stood using the chair he fell asleep in and his dad lead him to his bedroom. His father tucked him in briskly before leaving. In the morning he would hardly remember the slight figure he saw slip through his window or the ghost of a hand that brushed through his hair.

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a/n:

*Sigh* Its been so long I don't even know what to say. Specially since this is so short but there is a reason for that! I can start by saying that this isn't dead and neither am I. I'm still writing but I've had to rework a lot of this. So that means lots of rewriting and a bit of a plot change and the plot isn't even 100% decided. I mean if anyone has any suggestions or thoughts I'd be glad to hear them! Thanks for sticking with me guys! It's real sweet! I'll be trying to update within two weeks and it'll be longer, for sure, than this chapter!

Hugs n Kisses

Kenne