Book of Time XII

Fluorescent ceiling
overwhelmed their waking eyes.
Ty sat up in bed.
Parsley’s shoulder held Mary,
and Rose re-entered the room.

Ty whispered, “Aunt Rose,”
Rose interrupted, “Drink this,
you’re dehydrated.”
Ty guzzled lukewarm water
while Rose answered their questions.

“You’ve been out a week.
Your nurse Sona remembers
us bringing her home
when we were lost with the elves.
She gave you their medicine.”

Ty asked, “And that knight,
the one who started this mess?”
Rose looked at her niece,
“Mary and Parsley have spent
the last week tracking him down.”

Twitch in Mary’s nose,
hearing her name awoke her.
Parsley stayed asleep.
Mary rubbed her eyes before
hugging her bedridden friend.

“Ty, thank God you’re fine!
The elven medicine worked
just like Sona said.”
Surprised that they felt no pain
from Mary’s hug, Ty stood up.

Rose rebuked them,
“Be careful, you still need rest.”
Ty said to Mary,
“Do you know where that knight sent
Delaney and William?”

Mary said, “Not yet,
but I know they’re alive.”
Parsley’s sleep-talking
caught everyone’s attention,
“Mary…” he mumbled, smiling.

Richard Auriga

Nassau County, NY