The Timing of the Loss of a Love

Chapter Ten

"Acrista?"

His deep soothing voice rang through my head. I made no initial response. Instead I remained where I was, staring at my wooden desk which was entirely bare save for a few pieces of paper and my feather pen.

I'd been sitting in front of my desk from the time I'd awaken this morning till now. I simply glared at the blank sheet, for it was obviously its fault that my thoughts were so inarticulate. I could think of no way to say in words what I felt in my heart. But my feelings had completely consumed me since the evening before.

"Acrista?" I heard again. "What's the matter? You're still in your night ware and you've not been down for breakfast."

In one large spurt of energy I stood from my farthingale chair, which had been personally embroidered by Madame Lea, and turned very quickly to face Eramif. My long curly hair followed suit, and in turn wacked me in the face. My brief moment of furry was quickly snuffed out and instead I was left standing there suppressing a giggle. Eramif appeared to be doing the same.

"Acrista... are... you alright?" He said in between sniggers.

"No I'm not!" I squeaked. "I can't stand by and do nothing for the world!"

"Dear, what are you talking about?" His tone was laced with worry and his eyes became filled to the brim with concern. He started to take a step towards me but my reply stopped him in his tracks.

"The old man!" I yelled. "I can't sit here in this huge house with plenty to spare while people are suffering Eramif! He was chased from the square yesterday! And I come home to a house full of space and warmth! His clothes were hardly clothes, and instead merely tatters yet I sit here with so many blankets that I shall never be able to use them all! Eramif can't you see? Nobody cared to hear his story. Nobody asked him how he came to such a life. What if his family was lost to a fire? What if he was abandoned at birth? Eramif, he could be a war hero. But nobody cares! Appearances are all anyone cares about anymore!"

A few moments of silence followed my outburst. He only looked at me and I at the fire.

"You care."

And that's all he said. Those two simple, yet powerful words. We stood there in silence. I slowly turned my brooding gaze from the large burning fire to his soft  calming eyes and gentle face. We stared into each other's eyes for a long moment. My arms crossed over my chest and my shoulders slumped slightly. Nearly four feet separated us.

"I do care." I whispered as I hung my head.

He shrugged his shoulder slightly. Turning on his heel he headed for the door. He didn't hesitate to leave, but as he left he called back, "Then figure out what you're going to do about it!" The door closed quietly behind him.

Figure out what you're going to do about it...

His words sparked something in me. In that moment he became the match which set my kerosene ablaze. I straitened my posture and stared at the door where he had just left from. Opening my mouth slowly I formed the two words that would change the course of my life. "I will."

/////

My days became far more full than they had been in a long time. My hours were used by learning. Eramif taught me how to cook and clean, and basically how to be a regular house wife. For me, time was of the essence. Every minute that I wasted was yet another minute that people needlessly suffered.

Eramif and I were hard at work putting my new dream into motion. My plan was to entirely transform this unused house into a busy thriving homeless shelter. I have so many rooms that I don't know what to do with them. I've been working on selling anything that I don't need. I'll need money for upkeep, food, paychecks... "Ack!"

The bacon I'd been making popped and the hot grease got all over my arm. My thoughts had preoccupied me and I hadn't been focusing. I let go of the pan as I fell backwards onto the heavily stained wooden floor. I shrieked when I hit the ground but the sound stopped abruptly when my back hit the floor and the wind was knocked out of me.

I tried hard to catch my breath but the pain in my arm was very distracting. Look at it... my thoughts whispered. I managed to get my arm into view and the sight was not pretty. The grease had burned spots into my arm which was bright red and obviously irritated. The burning didn't stop and I knew I needed to get my arm into cold water.

I heaved a heavy sigh bringing the air back into my lungs and rolling over. I rolled onto my injured arm however which caused me to scream louder than I ever had before. I heard a huge bang outside followed by several other heavy bangs. I continued to try to get up. The back door slammed open and Eramif was standing in the door way.

"Acrista!" He yelped as he leapt towards me. In an attempt to help me up he grabbed both my forearms causing me to scream again.

"Eramif!!!" I wrenched my arm out of his hand and crumpled to the floor. My face was soon soaked with tears as I sobbed. My skin continued to burn and my lungs continued to rattle. Eramif seemed stunned and only sat there looking at me.

He suddenly jumped up as if reality had returned to him. He began bustling about the kitchen grabbing things from here and there coming up with a grand display on the table consisting of medical supplies. He removed the bacon pan from the heat and put out the flame in the stove. In another flash of pure Eramif he had me on my feet and in a chair next to the table. He immediately began to work on my arm, cleansing, cooling, and bandaging it. Having some medical knowledge the job was completed in fifteen minutes.

Fifteen agonizingly painful minutes.

Throughout the entire ordeal I'd had my head resting on the table. I generally do not get e weak stomach around anything, apart from my own wounds. One glance at my arm told me that all my preparations and planning were going to be slowed drastically.

"Why do I keep doing stupid things?..." I mumble resting my chin back down on the table.