Time for the Truth: a story of a sleeping beauty

part 18: Camden's Choice

"Camden, what are your thoughts on this?" Rior asks him, in English for me, and Camden scrunches his face before he speaks. 

"You ask much of the men... they are not yet willing. Some of them have families they want to start or have already begun at home." He pauses, and I jump in. 

"Do you?" He blushes, and Rior suppresses a grin. I catch my breath because sometimes it shocks me that another human being doesn't mind- no, likes- my impulsiveness. 

"Me? No. Not a family waiting."

"But hoping for one?" He nodded cautiously. 

"Perhaps someday. But not too soon."

"I agree. We wouldn't want to have children when we are so close to being some ourselves." Camden smiled, barely. He did seem to have a nice smile, Tarana would need that. 

"Would you consider giving such a promise?" I asked. He blanched. Shook his head. 

"I am afraid that would be impossible."

"Why? What else do you want in your life that you would avoid marrying a sweet, pretty, talented girl?" So maybe I was a little biased. 

"I have a successful career. I still want to travel, meet many people before I settle down." 

"You still could." There was a teeth-grinding silence. 

"I thought you understood what such a promise entails?" He said. His english suddenly improving. Was it an act? Or was he just smart enough to get better within a few days of being here?

"I do. But we do not know if it will affect you the same way, or if it affects anyone the same way. She will die without this. I don't know if you have any siblings, but if you do, you must know how desperate I am."

"Would I be able to handle it? Being away from her?" He pointedly asked Rior. 

"Yes. So long as you are strong enough. It is manageable, although at first it will be very hard." 

"What if he left before she woke up? Then he wouldn't really know her well enough to be in love with her..." I trailed off as Camden looked thoughtful. 

"Will you let us even see her before we are meant to follow her our entire lives?" He asked, and I knew he was warming to the idea. 

"Yes, please, come now and you may see her. Although she is sick, so she often looks much better." I say in her defense. He nods, following me and Rior. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

When we enter the door, the curtains are closed again, but Tarana is thrashing about. I rush forward to soothe her, and Camden steps into the circle of light by her bed. 

She wakes almost as soon as I touch her. 

"Sie." She breathes fast, sitting up. We have been giving her small doses of antidote, and just as I did she improves slowly only to worsen greatly. Her eyes are clear for a moment as she breathes in and out to calm herself. I stroke her cheek and her eyes close briefly before she stares at the water by her. Camden comes forward and hands her a glass with shaky fingers. She accepts his help carefully, her arms too weak to hold the glass herself. I numbly take the glass from him and help her drink it slowly, in little gulps at a time. 

"My dream... Sie- test my hand?" She asks, and I smile at the trick. 

She nods, knows she's awake. 

"I was in the middle of a barely frozen lake- I could tell the water was so cold beneath me, but I just stood there.. too scared if I moved onto a thinner patch..." her breathing sped up and I pulled her close. She allowed her gaze to focus on Camden.