Golden road

A woman hugs me—in a motherly embrace. Her voice echoes through the fading darkness: *"I'm sorry, Aaron. Please forgive me."* Then she's gone, as I am pulled away into the darkness.

My eyes flutter open, fresh streaks of tears fall down my face. I stare up at an unfamiliar wooden ceiling. The white sheets beneath me are soft, almost unnervingly so compared to the cart's rough bedding. As I push myself upright, the memories **slam** into me:

*Julianne bleeding. The arrow in the bandit's skull.

**"JULIANNE! AIDEN!"** My voice cracks raw against the walls. **"WHERE ARE YOU?"**

The door **BURSTS!** open. A white-haired man with eyebrows like bushes glares at me. **"Quiet down, you little hellion! I've got other patients trying to recover!"**

I fell back onto the pillows, startled. **"Who... who are you?"**

He scoffs, adjusting his spectacles. **"The fool who spent five days rebuilding your mutilated muscles. Now *shut up* before I reconsider my generosity."**

My panic resurfaces.

**"Julianne and Aiden—the people who brought me here—are they—?"**

**"Alive,"** he grumbles, rummaging through a cabinet.

**"Though that fiery one lost an eye."**

The words hit like daggers. *An eye.* My fingers twist in the sheets.

**"Are they still here?"**

**"No, they were discharged four days ago. While you've been dead to the world for five."** He pauses, studying my body. **"Frankly, with how your muscles were shredded, you shouldn't have woken up yet. You can thank my genius and that freakish body of yours to even wake up in five.

Before I can ask anymore, he stomps toward the door. **"Stay put. I'll send a runner to The tavern close by for them."**

Alone in the quiet room, I brush my fingertips across the dried tear streaks on my cheeks.

*Why was I crying?*

I chase the fragments of my dream, but they slip through my grasp like smoke. But only three words linger:

*"I'm sorry, Aaron."*

My fist clenches in the sheets. *Why can't I remember?* The question left unanswered in the empty room.

**BANG!**

The door flies open so hard it rebounds off the wall. Julianne stands breathless in the doorway, her boots still muddy from the road. An old white bandage covers her left eye, her remaining one widens as she sees me awake.

"Aaron!" Her voice cracks with relief as she rushes forward.

"Thank the gods you're—" She stops abruptly, her single eye scanning me up and down like she's checking for broken pieces. "How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? The doctor said you might—"

Her words tumble out in a frantic cascade, her hands hovering like she wants to hug me but fears hurting me.

Aiden comes barreling in like a spooked bull, gasping for air.

**"Why—*wheeze*—did you suddenly—"** His words die as he spots me.

**"AARON!"**

The next second, I'm crushed against his chest, his arms locking around me like iron bands.

**WHUMP!**

Julianne's boot connects with Aiden's thigh.

**"Off, you oaf! He's still recovering!"** she snarls, yanking him backward by his collar. Aiden stumbles, nearly taking the bedside table with him.

I didn't even hug him that hard!

Or really because I swear I heard a rib crack!

The doctor stands framed in the doorway, his spiky white hair practically **crackling** with rage.

**"HEY YOU IDIOTS!"** he roars, veins bulging at his temples.

**"This is a healing ward, not a tavern! so shut up before I throw you out!"**

The effect is instant. Julianne and Aiden freeze mid-argument, before looking down like chastised children.

**"Sorry, Doc..."** Aiden mumbles.

**"Yeah. Sorry."**

The doctor sighs in annoyance. **"Good. Now GET OUT."** He jabs a finger toward the hallway. I need to assess his recovery without you two buffoons causing more damage!"**

As they shuffle out, Julianne delivers a final, silent *this-is-your-fault* stare at Aiden.

**CLICK.** The door shuts behind them.

**"Good,"** the doctor mutters, rolling up his sleeves. **"Now let's see if you're as indestructible as you seem."**

His hands move with clinical precision—prodding muscles, testing joint mobility, making me lift my arms like a puppet. With each test, his bushy eyebrows climb higher.

**"Ahem!"** He suddenly straightens, puffing out his chest. **"As I thought. My genius is truly... *stunning*."**

**"Why do you say that?"**

**"Well,"** he says, tapping my perfectly functional knee, **"I expected you to struggle moving for weeks. Yet here you are, barely a scratch left. My medicinal prowess is *frightening*."**

**"Does that mean I can go?"**

**"Yes, yes,"** he waves a hand, then pauses. **"But just to be safe..."**

His palms erupt with **emerald light**, the glow wrapping around me like a heated cloak. The warmth seeps into my bones, mending the last hidden aches.

**"Well... Aaron, was it? You're cleared."**

I stare at my now-tingling hands. **"What was *that*?"**

**"Hmm?"** He blinks. **"Never seen magic before? I suppose you're—"**

**"AHHHHHHH!"** A bloodcurdling scream tears through the adjacent wall.

**"Oh *shit*—"** The doctor pales. **"Sorry kid, duty calls!"**

He's out the door before I can blink, white coat flapping behind him. My shout chases empty air:

**"Wait! What's magi—"**

I sigh, shaking my head. *Guess I'll just ask Julianne or Aiden.*

Padding down the wooden hallway, I find them mid-argument:

Aiden jabs a finger into Julianne's forehead. **"How is this *my* fault? You're the one who came barreling in here like a bat out of hell!"**

Julianne crosses her arms. **"Yeah, well at least I didn't nearly crush him to death!"**

*"I barely squeezed him!"* Aiden grunts out, his eyes twitching.

**"Pfft—HAHAHA!"**

My laughter spills out uncontrollably. Their heads snap toward me, bickering forgotten.

**"Aaron!"** Julianne breathes.

In two strides, they're at my side—Julianne's hands hovering still afraid I'll shatter.

While Aiden comes closer grinning like a fool.

**"Told you I didn't hurt him"** he crows while beginning to ruffle up my hair.

**"Whatever"** She sighs before shovin him aside.

Hey!

Julianne ignores him, her remaining eye scanning me for damage.

I'm all right the doctor said I should be okay.

Are you sure? she asks skepticism leaking from each of her words

Yes the doctor even used this weird green thing called magic?

The rigid worry slowly drains from Julianne's shoulders like melting ice. Then—

**I'm engulfed.**

Her arms wrap around me with surprising gentleness far different then Aiden bear hugs this is caring and gentle like she is trying to keep me safe.

*"Thanks for saving me, Aaron."*

Those words form a warmth that blooms in my chest—more intense than anything I felt before. Without thinking, my arms tighten around her as subtle tears fall from my eyes.

**Ahem!**

Aiden's exaggerated cough shatters the moment.

**"We've got an audience."**

We break apart to find a dozen eyes locked on us.

Julianne's face starts flush red as she suddenly finds the floor *fascinating*.

Aiden grins, at her discomfort before booming out the words

*"What! Never seen a reunion before or what"* His eyes staring sharp like knives.

Aiden slaps Julianne between the her shoulders jolting her free from the embarrassment.

*"Don't you think our little hero here deserves a proper meal?"* He grins.

*"Gah—!"** Julianne's boot **crunches** down on his toes. *"Don't *ever* slap me like that again, you idiot."*

Aiden hops on one foot. **" I won't promise! But can we? Now hit the tavern—I'm starving."**

Julianne exhales through her nose, but the ghost of a smile tugs at her lips. **"Fine. But *you're* paying."**

As they bicker toward the exit, the late afternoon sun paints the path ahead like a golden road and I can't help but feel excited for what's next.