Hey everyone! I finally got out of writer's block! So here's the next part of the random person story I've been working on! :) Enjoy!
PREVIOUSLY:
...After a while I started hearing police sirens. Within moments of hearing the sirens, the men disappeared and we were able to escape down an empty road.
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When we were certain of our safety, I collapsed to the ground, sobbing. I didn't dare look at my wound, convinced that if I did I would faint. My emotions were a mess, and I felt sick and weak. Where had my regular life gone? Just a few hours ago I had been sitting in my apartment with my cat, reading a favorite book. ...Or was it days ago? I didn't even know that!
I became vaguely aware of strong arms bringing me into a gentle embrace. My eyes teared up and I cried again, this time from the pain. "It hurts. It hurts so much! Make it stop, Eriq. Please!"
Suddenly, an overwhelming image formed in my mind.
A little girl with long, dark curls, and a tall boy with a dazzling smile stood together in a garden. The girl started crying...she had pricked her finger on a thorn and it was bleeding. Worried, the boy ripped a small strip off the hem of his tunic and gently tied it onto her finger. She looked up with admiration at the boy, and he smiled back.
"You said my name," a marveled voice spoke, and the image shivered and faded away. "You remembered my name."
I looked up at the wondering grey eyes and blinked, abruptly realizing who it was. Quickly I moved away, landing on my injury. Without thinking, I glanced down at the wound. I choked. Half-dried blood coated my shoulder, and the pain increased as I realized how horrid it really was. Everything around me began to spin, and I passed out.
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My eyes gradually opened and I again found myself looking at the young man.
"You seem to have a habit of fainting when I'm around you," he said with a slight grin.
"Well, you seem to have the habit of startling me when I least expect it," I backfired, attempting to sit up. As I did so, I found that my shoulder no longer hurt extremely. Just a subtle throbbing remained.
He held out a hand, helping me to my feet. "Sorry I didn't heal you entirely. It takes a lot of energy to fix wounds like that."
Only then did I realize how worn out he looked. He had probably used up most of his strength protecting me from the day's events.
"Thank you," I said, "for saving me earlier. It was a brave thing to do."
"It was nothing. I was just doing my duty as your guardian."
"Since when did you become my guardian?" I asked, walking along beside him.
"Since we met," he said somberly, a distant look in his eyes.
To be continued! :)
-Jemison Stripes
