Worry for Adriel stitches through every cell. If his home sustained damage like the rest of the town, then he needs me.
Leaping over a fallen tree, I keep my focus straight ahead to prevent myself from getting lost. And to keep myself from injuring myself again.
That would be romantic.
I’m here to save you, but could you help me first?
I pause, glancing around the changed landscape. Panic momentarily makes my heart skyrocket. Branches, leaves, anddebris are everywhere. The hope that being this deep in the woods, everything would have been protected appears to have been a naïve dream. My eyes search for anything familiar to keep me on the right path, sheer determination the only thing keeping me going at this point.
It takes me nearly twice as long as usual to get to his territory, the sun having fully set a while ago. I click off the flashlight I had to use the last part of my trek before the torches of his home light up my path, like a beacon, inviting me into his space.
What greets me, stops me hard in my tracks. The usually grand flower bed, filled with every color of Agastache imaginable, is decimated. One lone row stands pitifully against the backdrop of utter disaster. The ruin streaks through the landscape like scars from a flooded stream. Fallen branches and leaves are everywhere.
“Adriel?” I cry out into the night, the terror impossible to hide from my voice. Dropping my bag near his home, I peek inside before rushing around to find him.
A pained groan has me turning on my heels to find Adriel lying prone in the dirt amongst a pile of branches. Not moving.
“Adriel!” I scream and run to his side.
Chapter 33
Adriel's POV
My body floats in a dream-like state between consciousness and not. The agony rushing through my veins prevents me from fully transporting myself into oblivion. But my body is too weak.
After three unsuccessful days of attempting to clean up my garden, my body finally gave up. Mother Earth’s strength is waning too much to keep me upright.
“Adriel,” Rami’s sweet voice whispers through the fog of my mind.
If Rami is going to make an appearance in this fever dream, I can’t be too upset by it. Perhaps in this realm I can finally touch him.
A gentle hand lands on my back, over my shirt, shaking me gently. “Adriel,” Rami cries out much louder.
This isn’t a dream. This is real. A loud groan slips free as my body is roused from its position. Each muscle fiber crying out in a wash of pain, protesting any movement. I do manage to roll onto my back, sweat beading on my forehead and my breaths panting from the exertion.
“Rami?” I croak, my throat dry and raw.
“Tell me what you need,” Rami demands. The panic in his voice, making it higher than usual.
“Y-Y-You,” I force out through clenched teeth.
“I’m here, Adriel.” The strength in his voice floods into me and I revel in it. He carefully moves a knot of hair out of my face. “Is it the garden? Is that what you need?”
Pride blossoms deep in my chest, my brilliant boy. No, not a boy. A man. He came back for me. And he figured out what my curse requires without me having to say a word.
I manage to nod, forming words is still too great an ask. “Don’t worry, I will tend to the flowers and rebuild your strength. Ludo, watch after him for me.” Without needing to glance at my little kangaroo rat, I can imagine the look of determination on his face.
The sound of Rami rushing around, pausing only to bring me water and snacks, becomes my lullaby. My body is too weak to remain conscious for long, but Rami’s presence provides me with a level of comfort I forgot how much I needed.
As the hours tick by, the pain steadily lessens throughout my body. By the time the sky starts to brighten on the horizon, I am capable of pushing myself upright. A groan of exertion alerts Rami of my predicament and he rushes to my side.
“What is it?” he asks, sitting down next to me. His brows pinch, giving away his worry.
“You came back.”
A sweet smile curls up his lips. “I will always come back for you, Adriel.”
Needing to touch him, I place my hand firmly on the center of his chest, over his heart. He copies my motion. And we both lean in enough to close the distance without touching.
