A Familiar Stranger

Mirelah;

I sigh in exasperation as I pull myself off the ground. Today is probably the most exhausted I have ever felt in my entire life. 

I can't remember the past, and it hurts to try. So, I'm going to stop. Maybe it will come back to me on its own. Like that memory with Kealith…

I look over at the bed, and find a light blue night dress that has been folded and kept aside for me. I need a shower. Looking down at my body, I can tell that I've been wiped down. But that isn't enough. I need a proper shower. For that, I'll have to wait. If any of the maids return, I'll let them know I need one.

For now, I should get out of this dirty dress. I smile down at the ragged masterpiece I'm in. It's quite like me, isn't it? It started the day as a pretty dress that was slightly out of place. And now, it is torn, dirty and looks like it's been dragged through hell and back. 

I let out a huff of breath as I roll my head back and reach for my zipper. I turn to the mirror as I yank it down, and my dress falls off my body. 

I stare at my bare chest and smile as I once again remember Meadow. She's always scolding about my habit of not wearing chest wraps. You can't blame me though. They are very uncomfortable and irritating. I don't know why anyone subjects themselves to such torture.

I bend over and push down my bloomers. Stepping out of it, I stare at my completely naked body in the mirror. I stare at my messy hair, and run my fingers through it to get the tangles outs. My eyes land on Azra's hair pin, and my thoughts come to a screeching stop. 

I pull it out, and stare at the golden object. I wonder how she's doing. What she's thinking. I thought I'd be able to run away and give her back her chance to be with Darven, but I got caught.

It was never my intention to hurt her. I never wanted to get in her way. Sure, we hardly see eye to eye on things, and of all my sisters, she's the most annoying… but not once have I ever schemed to hurt her. 

Despite how much she troubles me, she's still my sister… 

I remember the anger in her eyes as she threatened me, and I shut my eyes. She's going to do something. Azra has never made an empty threat before. But what is she going to do? How far is she going to go? Is she going to try to hurt me? Or will she stop this marriage….

I groan as I slam the hair pin on the dresser, and just then I hear the room's door open. I turn in alarm, and my eyes nearly pop when I see Kealith!

I remain frozen as he stares at the bed for a second before quickly scanning the room, and when his eyes land on me, they go wide.

His gaze drops to my body, and it takes a second of me watching him stare to remember that I'm naked. Butt naked!

With embarrassment bubbling in my gut like a pot of soup, I quickly pick my dress off the floor and hold it against my body. I kick my bloomers behind the chair, then glare at him with wide eyes.

"What are you doing here!? Don't you knock? "I demand as I feel my face begin to go red, and to my dismay, he steps inside and shuts the door behind him.

His eyes, now dark, are locked onto me—unwavering, hardly blinking. I feel his eyes take me in, and I begin to feel very self-conscious. His gaze travels from my feet to my barely covered thighs, then to my hands and chest, which I'm desperately hiding behind what's left of my dress. And finally, his gaze returns to my face. He stares at me for a few seconds in silence, and then he speaks.

"I'm sorry. I was told you hadn't regained consciousness. "He says, and a shiver runs down my spine at the smooth heaviness of his voice.

It sounds like a sea flowing with steady tides. If he ever tried singing, mothers would never have to worry about putting their babies to sleep at night.

"You're wounded. "He speaks. Snapping me out of my thoughts and I blink at him before staring

down at my arms.

"They're just bruises. Nothing serious. "I reply, and he lifts his hand to point at something.

"I'm talking about that… "

I look in the direction he's pointing, and I feel life leave my face when I see the reflection of my full, bare back in the mirror. He's pointing at a fresh cut at my back that I can't for some reason feel. I know I got that today, but that is the least of my concerns.

I was so focused on covering my front, I didn't even think about the massive mirror behind me. The reflection betrays every inch of my bare back, and I suddenly feel exposed in a whole new way.

I quickly back away from the mirror, but in doing so, I've turned my back to him. The realization hits me like a smack, and I try to turn away to hide from him, but I trip over my leg, and crash to the ground, causing me to groan.

I cradle my elbow as I hug my knees to my chest and he walks up to me.

"Are you usually this clumsy? "He questions as he holds out his hand, and I glare up at him.

"This is your fault! I'm not the one who asked you to come in here while I was naked! "I retort, and I can almost swear that I see a faint smile tug at his lips.

"You haven't changed much. "He replies, and I blink at him. 

"Fine. I'll look away. "He says as he turns his face in the opposite direction, and I hesitate for a while.

I slowly place my hand in his, and he pulls me up. I guess he expected me to weigh more because the force of his pull sends me flying toward him.

I gasp in fear as I crash into him, but his stamina is commendable. He doesn't fall or stagger. He just catches me. My naked body pressed against him, with his arm around my waist and the other on my wrist. 

 As I stare into his dark eyes, something stirs in my mind—a flicker of something familiar, something just out of reach. His face slowly morphs into that of a little boy from a distant memory. With the setting sun painting the sky orange, the little boy smiles at me as if he owns the world.

He holds up a novel to me as he proudly shows off his missing tooth in his smile, and I feel something warm erupt in my chest.

-I got it for you, since you like reading so much! - 

He says with contagious excitement, and I smile back. I try to touch him, but sharp pain once again rings through my head, and I shut my eyes and wince in pain as I grab my head.

"Mirelah! Are you okay? "Kealith's voice questions, and I struggle to speak through the pain, but I can't form words.

I feel him scoop me into his arms, and soon he drops me on the bed. He covers me with the duvet, and I slowly open my eyes to look at him.

What's wrong?" he asks, and I just stare at him as his image fades—shifting between the little boy and the man before me.

"We've… we've met before now, haven't we? Before today? "I question, and I watch his face drop. Hurt floods his eyes as he gently takes my hand, and I just watch him. 

He stares at me with expectant eyes… Like he's expecting me to know the answer to that question, but I'm sorry to disappoint him. I don't remember…

"You really don't remember? "He questions, and I feel guilty at the pain in his voice. 

"Remember what? "I croak, and he smiles at me. A smile that isn't happy. A smile that holds none of the brightness from the little boy's face in my memory.

"Nothing. You should get some rest. I'll send the maids to give you a bath. "He says, and my eyes begin to drop.

"In the meantime, I should take care of your wounds…" he says, placing a hand on my head.

I begin to feel tingles all over my body, and I stare at him through lazy eyes.

"What are you doing? "I slur.

"Healing your wounds. It's your first day here. So many bruises and cuts aren't a good look. "He replies, and that's the last thing I hear before I fall out of consciousness for the third time today.

I was right. This was indeed a hell of a day.