Page 106 of Light Up The Night
She covers my mouth with her palm. "Not yet. Please."
"Okay."
"Just hold me. I will tell you as much as I can when I can, but for this moment, I just need you to hold me some more. Once I enter the healing trance, I will be unresponsive. You do not need to be quiet, and you do not need to stay near me. I will come out of it on my own when my mind and body are ready."
"Okay."
Slowly, she settles, drowses, and falls asleep again. I won't be able to sleep anytime soon, though.
Eventually, I become restless and ease her off of me. She curls up away from me, sighing softly. I cover her and tiptoe out.
She wasn't exaggerating.Over the next three days, she's in and out of sleep. When she's awake, she stares at nothing, only blinking owlishly once every so often. Even if I enter the room and crouch in front of her, she doesn’t register my presence.
She doesn't leave the bed. Barely stirs when she's asleep, curled up in a tight, protective ball, covers in her fists, which are balled up under her chin.
If she hadn't warned me, I'd be worried. But having seen her in a similar state before prepared me somewhat. It's how she processes things, I guess. I know she told me I don't have to stay, but I couldn't leave her here alone.
I leave a bottle of water on the table beside her, and though I never see her drink from it, the level drops consistently, so at least she's staying hydrated to some degree.
On the morningof the fourth day, I wake up to find her sitting up, sipping water, and looking like herself again, to a degree, at least.
"Hey," I mumble, stretching. "How are you?”
"Ravenous."
I smile. “That’s a good sign. Let me rustle something up. Any requests?"
"A cheese omelet?” She blushes. "Do you have bacon?"
I snicker. “Do I have bacon? Do bears—"
"Shit in the woods," she finishes with me, grinning. "Riley, I—"
I kiss her lips, a soft, quick peck; I'm not trying to start anything. God knows when she'll be ready for anything likethat; no time soon, if I had to guess, and that’s okay. "Eat first. Talk second. Yeah?"
Her eyes fix on my mouth when I pull away. "We have much to discuss. I have much to tell you."
"And there's time for all of it. But first, you need food. God knows when the last time you ate was."
She shrugs, frowning. "I…I do not know. Before the attack."
"Attack?" I echo, my heart sinking into my stomach.
Her gaze darkens. "I shall tell all, I promise.”
I gaze at her, but I see that she’s not ready yet. So I leave the bed reluctantly, step into a pair of jeans and shrug into a clean T-shirt, and start up a pair of omelets and a whole package of bacon, along with some toast and fresh fruit—I started keeping my fridge stocked with stuff she likes at some point—not sure why, or when I started doing it.
Despite her obvious hunger, she forces herself to eat slowly, taking tiny bites which she chews thoroughly, and takes time between bites.
When we're done, I set our plates aside and wait.
She gives me one of those slow, thoughtful, owlish blinks. "Do you have any tea?"
I nod. "Yeah, I have green tea, black tea, and a three-mint kind."
"May I have a mug of mint tea? Please?"
"Of course, sweetheart." I stand, clear our plates into the sink, fill the kettle, and get it going. While the water heats, I find the tea bag and a mug.
