Running Away From One Thing, and Into Another.

Chapter 30: Flickering Flame

It's been a week since I've woken up. It's safe to say it has been a long week.

I sigh quietly to myself and stare at the flickering fire tucked away in the room's corner. Well, I try to stare anyways. One thing I have realized is that this is as good as my sight gets. I didn't realize how heightened my senses were before in Talyare until I woke up here in Jeroth. I feel completely blind in every sense. Blast it, even my taste buds don't work like they used to. Then again, it isn't like I have really been using them that much anyways.

Another sigh slips out of my mouth. That happens quite often now.

Azjin will be here soon. I think to myself, sparing a glance at the door before returning it to the fire. The grown up Azjin, anyways. I think a little bitterly to myself.

More stuff I have had to come to terms with: I'm older. I don't mean days older, or even weeks older. I'm many years older.

I didn't want to believe it – who would? Azjin and I argued back and forth forever. Her evidence was pretty strong, but I clung to my defense. I told her I kept careful count of all the months I spent there. I repeated it over and over again, but I knew it was useless and I was fighting a hopeless fight. She had smiled sadly at me and shook her head. She then told me she talked to some people and that they had explained that time in Jeroth and Taylare are different. She told me “Sure, it felt like six months to you, but, in reality, it was actually six years.”

Six years.

I lost six blasted years in that world, and I didn't even know it.

I couldn't really talk much after that. I wanted to ask her what really qualified those people to talk about Talyare, but I knew it was useless. I only had to look at Azjin to know she was telling the truth. The last time I had seen her, she was a tiny, young girl with innocent brown eyes and an easy smile. Now, her brown eyes weren't so innocent, but instead held warnings that she had seen things that were beyond her age. She wasn't a little girl anymore, but a young, tall woman. She seemed even taller than me. The good news is that her smile still came very easy and was just as bright as the old Azjin's smile. At least that much hasn't changed.

Echoing footsteps in the hallway bring my gaze back to the door. I don't have to wonder whom it is. Every afternoon, Azjin comes by to give me lunch. It always happens the exact same way every time. “Here's you something to eat, Tace.” She'll say with an awkward smile that is probably suppose to be sympathetic. I'll nod my appreciation, but do nothing else. “Would you like to step out after you eat?” I'll shake my head, not wanting to leave the little cave room. It will be silent for a moment as I taste whatever lunch is. Then, with eyes full of pity, Azjin will ask in a soft voice. “Tacia, do you want to talk about it?” I always have the same answer: no. She will frown, but say nothing else. It is quiet for a few minutes before Azjin finally leaves, probably thinking I'm broken and beyond repair.

Maybe she is right. Because, right now, I feel pretty broken.

The knob jiggles, bringing me out of my thoughts. Groaning, the door slowly swings open and in walks a cloudy figure. I might be nearly blind, but I know the difference between a young woman's slim figure and an old man's chubby figure.

I could freak out. No one would blame me, considering all that I've been through. Instead, I simply look at him and try to make something out of the blurry details.

“Afternoon, Tacia.” Says the old man with a voice slightly graveled by age. A very familiar voice.

My eyes slightly widen, but I remain calm. “You're the voice.”

The man tilts his head. “Excuse me?”

“I heard you while I was out.” I explain. “You're the doctor, right?”