Tears be below.
Denise, the woman I married, the woman I loved, the woman I held, the woman I cherished.
The woman who held me, the woman who kissed me, the woman who wrung me, strangled me, broke me.
She's hurting me again.
An oddly robust gargle escapes my lips, but in her frenzied desperation to hold me close, she's pulled too hard at last, and as darkness creeps in from the edges of my vision, I can't help but gasp that the sand has at last slipped through her fingers.
She looks at my face as my vision fades, her eyes wide with shock and horror, the last thing I see is her gaping maw, the cavernous crypt which held my soul for so long.
"Ry, Henry!"
At last, I stir, and see her face again, the anger gone, tears in her eyes.
But my body betrays me, instinct takes hold, the voice screams in my mind.
RUN, you fool! Snakes will kill you, we told you before, why did you ignore us! Get out of bed, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
I roll from the bed, and plummet to the floor, I rasp and cough, unable to stand, and then she's on me, lifting me back into the bed, the white walls and bright lights, which at first confused me, inform me that we're in a hospital.
"I'm sorry Henry, I messed up, I hurt you again, I promised on that day, so many years ago, I promised I would keep you safe, but all I've done is hurt you!"
"My legs, why can't I feel my legs?!"
I try to stand, to walk to the bed, but there's nothing!
"I went too far Henry, please forgive me! I wemt looking, they're so rare, but I found a Bicorn! She still has her healing powers, she can help restore your legs, but you have to eat first. You need energy for her to divert."
At last the scent of roast vegetables hits my nostrils.
"Here, I'll feed you-"
"You've done quite enough, Denise."
She shivers as I say her name, always loved it, cherished the sound.
She looks apprehensive, her hands curl against one another, wringing tighter than when she tried to hold me.
She begins swatting her tail against the floor, and a rhythmic thwap, thwap, thwap, fills the air.
She sets the tray across my lap, and I quietly use my shaky limbs to open the sanitizing wipe, before beginning my meal.
The plate is stacked high with roast carrots, zuchinni, parsnips, and tomato, as well as more exotic things, mushrooms and demon realm produce.
Clearly the staff want us to make up, and I can't blame them, Denise finally seems remorseful.
I avoid Eye contact as I eat, but the rhythm of her nervous tic is calming, and soon I'm ready to go to sleep.
All will be well, I'm sure.