Sunrise

"And of course it is different; as different as the real thing is from a shadow or as waking life is from a dream" -Lord Diggory, the Last Battle

I knew they were coming. I did not hear the healers as much as I felt them, as if my reality had become like a dream. Everything was too soft; the edges of the world had gone fuzzy. I sat up slowly, groggy. My eyes felt all squinty from such irregular sleep. Beside me, my daughter lay still, her breath was thready and her face flush.

They were coming to tell me something I did not want to hear.

I felt so helpless as I sat there, waiting. I wanted to run away as if I could hide from what I knew they wanted to tell me. There was nothing left for them to do for her but.. wait. I could hear their feet now, in the dirt. They seemed to be stampeding in slow motion and the sound was filling up my head. My ribs felt small, constricting my breath and I suddenly realized I was crying. Not just crying but sobbing in such great heaves that I could not catch a hold of a decent breath. I reached for her, my little girl and pulled her onto my lap. She barely stirred. Sleeping deeper then she had in over a week now. Her breath was thin, yes.. but steady. The eldest of the healers was stepping inside now and I scooted backwards as if I could ward him and his stern expression away. He looked grim.. and resolute.

No..

I pulled Lei closer to me; I shut my eyes and pressed my damp cheek to my only child’s forehead. She was all I had left in the world. All I had left of Trayu, of love. She was everything that was good and right in the world. I kept my cheek to her forehead, rocking slowly...

"Asria.. Listen to me." Spoke the healer.

But I refused; I would not open my eyes. How childish I was behaving.. how frightened I was! So frightened that when I realized what was different I almost did not believe it. My cheek was not hot; it was not even warm as it pressed to Leis forehead. I lifted my head as the man knelt beside us. His expression mirrored my own.. surprise and then slowly.. Relief.

"Mama.." The sweetest sound I had ever heard.

The fever had broken.