Trisandrah Emberstrom

A Time for Words, A Time for Sleep

Sleep was an elusive but glorious thing. When it found her, she slept hard. It had taken months for her to be able to actually sleep with Zay, whether at her place or his. She never really found it odd that they’d stay up all night, talking and well…not talking.

The first time it had happened, she woke up, curled against him, and he was sitting up, leaned against the headboard, wide awake. She never questioned, they each kept their own secrets. The late-night comm talks had given that much up. He’d dozed off during a few of the more inconsequential, trivial talks but not in her presence.

The sun was rising as she stirred, her arm draped over a sleeping Zayneth. Lately, Sunday mornings had consisted of visits to Fairbreeze and some of Lyn’s bread and conversation. She considered running out to get a loaf, but as she lay next to him, couldn’t quite pull herself away.

Instead, she thought of all the things he’d confided in her the night before. It started with his second performance of the night, to her and Raerys.  His own secrets. Things made sense now. Things she’d questioned but would never press, even though her curiosity ate at her. It was a hard thing for her, to deny herself the possibility of learning more. Little nuggets of who Zayneth was.

Rarely did they ask each other questions, instead of allowing the other to slowly open up. Last night was a little different. He seemed ready to share things and even offered her the opportunity to ask questions. There were times he’d seemed completely vulnerable. He’d seemed more optimistic than in the past.

As they lay there this morning, she reached up and petted fingers along his jaw, lightly scraping over the stubble and processed it all. In the end, it still remained that he was who he was. Not much more mattered.

She had long since stopped trying to cipher out her feelings. As she closed her eyes, her hand remained against his cheek. The only thing she knew or cared about was there were two people, other than herself, that she’d kill for. He was one of them.