"N-no one was s-supposed to know..." the boy said, brokenly. "She s-said it wouldn't be s-s-safe. I c-couldn't even say her n-name." Fresh tears spilled from stormy blue eyes, and Haulean scrubbed his face with his sleeves as he wept into them. "Sh-she was always w-worried the B-Bad People would f-find me. I don't even kn-know if they were r-real... she'd n-never tell me wh-who they were."
The mild order to sit up and breathe was not heeded for a few heartbeats. Then a few more. Haulean didn't want to sit up. Or breathe. He wanted his mother... and his father.
That last thought finally prompted the boy to move, but instead of just sitting up, he found himself slipping down off the bed, and clumsily curling up against Nairn. He knew he likely wouldn't receive much back, but he needed the closeness. now more than ever. As he moved, there was a paper-like crinkling sound from within the mattress, and Haulean just stared in confusion for a moment or two. Then he remembered.
The parcel.
"I n-need... I... I can't... g-get it." Haulean wasn't exactly the strongest of boys, but the emotional upheaval had sapped him of just about everything. Thus, he couldn't seem to find the strength to lift the corner of he mattress, and retrieve the thick, sealed and corded envelope of sorts, that was addressed to him in his mother's hand. Not being able to get to it was distressing him all over again, and Haulean looked up at his mentor with helpless, pleading eyes. "N-nairn.. please... I n-need it..."
The mild order to sit up and breathe was not heeded for a few heartbeats. Then a few more. Haulean didn't want to sit up. Or breathe. He wanted his mother... and his father.
That last thought finally prompted the boy to move, but instead of just sitting up, he found himself slipping down off the bed, and clumsily curling up against Nairn. He knew he likely wouldn't receive much back, but he needed the closeness. now more than ever. As he moved, there was a paper-like crinkling sound from within the mattress, and Haulean just stared in confusion for a moment or two. Then he remembered.
The parcel.
"I n-need... I... I can't... g-get it." Haulean wasn't exactly the strongest of boys, but the emotional upheaval had sapped him of just about everything. Thus, he couldn't seem to find the strength to lift the corner of he mattress, and retrieve the thick, sealed and corded envelope of sorts, that was addressed to him in his mother's hand. Not being able to get to it was distressing him all over again, and Haulean looked up at his mentor with helpless, pleading eyes. "N-nairn.. please... I n-need it..."
04-06-2024, 08:33 PM
