Commander Braghaman Larethian

Commander Braghaman Larethian
2020-05-18 16:07:00

First Outing

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“I heard you went out yesterday.”

Dael had been looking down at his shirt, running his fingers across the threads along the edge. He stopped and looked up slightly. Some strands of hair shifted forward over his face which caused him to let go of his shirt and push the offenders back.

“Yeah,” the elf answered noncommittally. He then looked back down at the hem of his shirt.

“Did you go to that bakery I’d heard about?”

“Yeah,” Dael answered without looking up this time.

“What’s it called? Fancy something?” The other elf leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the clipboard that he’d been taking notes on.

“Cakes.”

“That’s right. Fancy Cakes. How was it? Did you talk to anyone?”

“Not really.”

“Was it crowded?” the elf asked as he sat back in his chair and started writing again.

“A little,” Dael replied.

“Did you go to the bakery?”

Dael stopped running his fingers across the seam. “Not really.”

“But you did go out?”

Dael nodded.

“Were there too many people for you there?”

Dael shrugged his shoulders a little.

“So then what happened?”

“I just watched. Listened.”

“Well, that’s still good. Baby steps.”

“Baby steps,” Dael repeated quietly.

“Maybe next time you can go up and order something. What do you think you’d order?”

“I don’t know. Tea? I saw some there. Maybe tea?”

“I didn’t know you liked tea. I could bring some with me next time if you’d like.”

Dael shrugged his shoulders.

“Okay, let’s change topics. Have you been practicing your exercises? Doing the puzzles?”

Dael nodded, causing his long hair to shift around again. This time he didn’t bother to push the strands out of his face. He seemed to prefer it this way now, providing him with a curtain against the rest of the room.

“May I see them?”

Dael stopped fidgeting and sat still for a moment. He then reached over to the bedside table and pulled open the small drawer. He took out a couple of papers from inside and then shifted towards the doctor sitting in a chair that had been moved to the foot of his bed. Dael handed the papers to the doctor and then slunk back into his chair.

The doctor took the papers and set them on top of his clipboard. He read over them carefully, shifting through each of them. For a few moments, the only sound in the small room was the rustle of the papers. Dael tilted his head to the side and looked up at the room. Two chairs, a bed, and a small bedside table. He’d been here for weeks. He’d lost count. There were no decorations on the plain white walls. It was plain and simple. 

“Just like me,” Dael whispered to himself. The doctor didn’t look up, didn’t say anything. If he’d heard Dael, he didn’t show it.

Dael turned his head slightly and looked down. A shaft of sunlight had lit a small patch of the floor. The elf focused on the circle of light on the floor. It reminded him of something. He knew it did, but he couldn’t grab hold of the thought. It would pull back just as he reached for it. He studied the floor more intently, as if he were willing it to tell him its secrets. 

“Well, these look good,” the doctor said. Dael froze. Was the doctor watching him? He slowly turned his head back and saw the other elf tucking the work under his other papers on the clip board. With those situated, the doctor looked back up at Dael.

“Have you written anything in your journal?”

Dael shook his head.

“Still can’t remember anything?”

“I’m trying. I almost..  then I can’t.”

“That’s okay. If something does come back, make sure you write it down. That might help you to remember more.”

“Okay.”

“Are you still having the dreams?” the doctor asked, his voice a little quieter. Dael nodded and his hair shifted some more. “The same one each time?”

“Not every time. It’s always at that place.”

“With all the rocks and mud?”

Dael nodded again. “And dark. Like night.”

“And the monsters?”

Dael nodded and looked down even more. His hair now completely shielded his face.

“The monsters can’t hurt you here,” the doctor said sympathetically. “You know you’re safe here, right?”

Dael didn’t move. He didn’t look up, couldn’t see the doctor watching him. After another quiet moment, the doctor leaned back in his chair and started writing on his clip board.

“Well. You went out. On your own this time. That’s a big accomplishment, Sardrindael. That’s a big step. You should be pleased.”

“Okay.”

“Anything else you want to talk about this morning?”

Dael shook his head. His long hair dancing from side to side and parted slightly so that the doctor could see his face somewhat.

“Okay. Keep working on your puzzles and journal. Maybe you can try going out again?”

“Maybe.”

“Good,” the doctor responded as he stood up out of his chair. “I’ll come by again, later in the week.”

“Okay.”

“Take heart, Sardrinedael. You’re making very good progress.” The doctor watched for a moment, but saw no response from Dael. He let out a quick sigh before turning and leaving the small, plain hospital room.

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