She kneels beside me. “Is it better when you’re low?”
I blink. “It’s coming back, slowly.”
“Probably a blood pressure issue. Have you been drinking water? Eating?”
I blink again. “I think I forgot.”
“For how long?”
“A couple days for each?” I push my back up against the wall. “Wait, no. I had a cup of water yesterday.”
“Catarina. Look me in the eyes and say that.”
I dare to obey, staring into them. Barely a moment do I manage to stand up to her attempt to be menacing, while her eyes stay a soft and gentle pink, before cackling away my limited sanity.
She giggles back, a smile staining her lips.
I wish she would hold me. I know that the Ring has given its endorsement to my pursuit, but… I almost prefer hers. Which I don’t have. I might never have it. I probably will never have it.
This crush will be something good for me, but the Ring never promised it would be in the way I hoped. It never… promised anything actually.
I wish I could hear back from it, whenever I prayed. Not thosefeelingsor guesses—I have those whether or not I want them—but actual verbal commands, like my peers used to have after morning prayer in secondary.
“Okay. I’m going to help you up. Lean on me if you get dizzy.” She loops her arm around mine. “Ready?”
I stand up with her, feeling my eyesight fall away as soon as I do so. I don’t hesitate to take her offer.
It takes a whole moment for me to realize that I’m beingheld. Not… in whole, but my arm is.
“You’ll be sitting, or laying, in a moment.” She helps me into the living room, leaving me on the couch with a blanket on my lap. “What are you in the mood for?”
“What?”
“Food. I can make some things.”
“...Sausage?”
“Not that.” She grimaces.
“More whore pasta then?”
“I would be happy to.”
I spread out across the sofa, music starting in the background. Except for the pictures that constantly make me sad in a strange way I can’t reconcile when I look at them, this is a cozy place. “Will I learn how to make whore pasta for you? As an apprentice?”
“It isn’t the kind of food you need a recipe for,” she says from the kitchenette.
“What kind of food is it?”
“I’ll tell you in a moment.”
I close my eyes and wait for the moment to…
“Sorry, but you have to sit up to eat.” She shakes my shoulder.
“I’m tired.” I get up with her assistance.
“Food will help.” She takes an inspiring leap into trying the foul smelling dish.
