Page 26 of Unravel

WhenIwake, it’s at least daylight.Thedrops on the tent seem to be falling from theAspentree we're under, as opposed to being rain.I’mexhausted.WhileIhave been sleeping like shit this week,Evan’sarrival has had me sleeping like a baby.Ishould feel refreshed or at least awake.Instead,Ifeel worse than before he got here.Itfeels as if the weight of the world has descended on me, and even my eyes are heavy with exhaustion.

Irub my eyes, hoping to clear the haze that seems to cling to me.Myribs remind me thatI'mhurt.Hurt.Fuck, how it hurts!Itisn’t only my ribs or my bruised face.Ihave been relentlessly kicked in the heart.

Agroan rumbles in my throat whenIsit up.Ineed water and a piss.Attemptingto comb out my hair seems pointless.Mystomach still has remnants of my cum from the night before.WhenEvanstarted crying.Itbroke me.Hispain hurt worse than my own.

Ipull my knees up and attempt to stretch my back and hips.Thereis no warmth in the blankets where he slept.Iwonder where he is.Istruggle to put on my clothes in the confined space, finally deciding boots and jeans are sufficient.Iopen the tent flap to a grim, rainy day.Theclouds are dark, and a heavy fog is rolling through the valley.Theair is so thick, it’s a wonder that it isn’t raining.

WhenIget to my feet, and stretch my arms to the sky, my ribs burn with a sharp pain.Mymuscles ache from laying too long.Shadowis gone, which gives me a small jolt of worry…fear thatEvanhas left me.

Itake care of business and chug down most of the water.Ifind some beef jerky and crackers softened by the humidity.WhileImarch to the river,Ichew on the jerky, takingSpiritwith me.Weboth need water.Shenuzzles me as we walk.

"Iknow, girl.Imiss you too.Don'tknow why allIwant to do is sleep."

Shedrinks whileIwash my face with the cold water and fill up a thermos.Thefresh water is so cold it stings, but it wakes me up a little more.Iwash my pits and stomach.Thatwill have to do until the weather improves.WhatIwouldn’t give for coffee right now, but without dry kindling, it would be impossible to get a fire started.

Thefog dips lower, obscuring everything around me.

“Comeon,"IurgeSpiritand lead her back to camp.Ican barely see the bright orange tent now, and the trees are lost in the mist.

Evanneeds to return.Itis too easy to get lost and lose all sense of direction when the fog is this thick.Myimmediate reaction is to go search for him, butIhave no idea which direction to start.

Spiritknickers, and whenIlook up,Evan’sform appears, enveloped in fog.

"Iwas worried whenIcame back and you were gone,” he says.

WhenIleaveSpiritnext toShadow, she immediately starts eating from the pile of dry grass at the base of the tree.

"Iwas wondering where you were myself.”

“Youseemed so deep in sleep;Ididn't want to bother you.Onceit stopped raining,Iwent to that rock overhang downstream to get something dry for the horses to eat."

"I'msorry.Ididn't mean to sleep so much.Don'tknow what's wrong with me.Isit morning at least?"

Randomdrops of water drip fromEvan'shat.Hesmiles, causing his dimples to appear, and shakes his head. "Notanymore."

Iblow out of breath, baffled thatI'velost all sense of time.

"Itwill be dark soon, especially with the cloud cover,” he tells me.

"Dark?"

Helaughs at me. "It'safter four in the afternoon, man."

"Shit!”Irun a hand through my now damp hair, feeling so disconnected from reality.

"Let'sget back inside the tent before you catch your death.You'renot even wearing a fucking shirt."

Ifollow him back to the tent. "Ineeded the fresh air to wake my ass up.Geez,Ican't believeIslept so much."

Afterhe takes off his hat,Evanwraps a blanket around me.Ismile and thank him for taking care of me.

"Shouldclear out overnight.Wecan dry out tomorrow," he says as he unbuttons his shirt.

“Areyou going to join me under this blanket?"Iask.

“Ifthat’s alright with you.”

Thecomment shouldn't bother me, but it does.Hejerks his shirt off his arms. "Ididn't mean anything by that,"Iclarify.

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