A new feeling

Aurelia

Running, always running. Why does the darkness chase me?

This time I run down a hallway with many doors. When I try a few handles, I find they are all locked. I have to get out of here somehow! I run past a large wooden door with metal baby dragons flying on it. On the other side I can hear a baby cry. When I put my hand on the handle it unlocks.

I slowly and hesitantly open the door; I hear a woman humming a tune. It sounds very familiar. When I push the door open a bit more, I can see the woman is sitting in a chair with her back to me. Waking up closer to her I see she's holding something in her arms. When I get closer, I see it's a baby.

As soon as I think the word “baby” the scene changes and there's a five-year-old girl standing where the woman and baby were, and she was looking at me. She looked like someone I have seen before...... those golden eyes.... it's like they stare right through me.

When I wake up, I don't know where I am or what I am laying on. It's so soft I’ve never felt anything like it before. Unsure if I'm alone and afraid to find out, I try to use my hearing to see if I am alone in the room. I can hear someone breathing deep and slow. Hoping the person is asleep I open my eyes just enough to see through my eye lashes and I can't believe what is see.

Is this real...

I don't remember going to my dream river. How is he here? I must still be dreaming...

Did I really see him by the river then? I am so confused.

Did he bring me here?

So many questions flashed through my mind. I found it hard to focus as his scent filled my nose, he smelled of roses and honey. When I try to take a deeper breath of his beautiful scent, he stirs awake. He looks in direction and we lock eyes. Embarrassed, I shut my eyes again. I hear him get up and walk over and sits down by me on the bed. Hi scent is so strong in my nose now.

" You are safe here." The beautiful voice says to me.

I want so badly to open my eyes and look at him. What do I do? I guess my choices are limited, I can't stay in this room forever with my eyes closed. Though I'm sure I can stay in this bed forever. I take a deep breath to ready myself and open my eyes.

"My name is Kairios. We found each other in the woods, do you remember?"

"Where am I now?" How could I not remember seeing him?

"My house. This is my room. Can you tell me where you came from and what happened to you? Who did this to you? Are you thirsty or hungry?" He asks me so kindly, what is this feeling in my chest?

I can't form words and tears start to spill out of my eyes, they are hot as they roll down my cheeks. He's offering me food? Why is he being so nice to me? When he gets up and makes his way to the door he says,

"I'll be right back, please stay in here."

Why do I have to say in here? I ran away to be free and make my own choices. When I sit up, I realize I'm so weak, I can't go anywhere even if I wanted to. I'll have to stay here for now. I look around the room, I see there is not much in here. The walls are bare and there's a window that's slightly open. The fresh air smells so good, realizing I'm on a bed like a cloud again, I can't keep the tears from flowing. Kairios walks in with food that smells so good my stomach growls so loud that my cheeks burn with my embarrassment.

"I didn't know what you like to eat. I asked my mother to gather some of everything that she had. There's also some water for you, please eat as much as you want there's plenty more downstairs." His voice is so soft.

He puts the tray on the bed beside me. I've never seen so much food in my life. Theres bread and some little yellow and white squares. There’s nuts and the meats smell so good. It all looks so delicious I don't know where to start. Deciding I want to find out what those little round things are first. I pick it up and smell it; it smells like honey. My mouth starts to water.

"Those honey cakes are my favorite, my sister Karmina baked them yesterday."

I take small bites wanting this to last as long as possible. He doesn't ask me any questions while I eat. He sits there staring at me. Watching me with green eyes that seemed to burn like an emerald-colored fire. I don't take my eyes off him while I eat the whole tray and drink all the water he brought me. I never had so much food in my stomach at one time. A soft knock at the door draws my attention.

"Kairios, can I come in?" A soft woman’s voice asks from the other side.

Kairios walks over to the door, unlocks it and then it opens. The most comfortable looking woman walked in, her face was so kind. She looked sad as her eyes looked over my ravaged body. For some reason all I want to do is run into her arms and cry all the tears that I've been holding in. But I stay where I am, not trusting the new feelings coursing through my mind.

"Is she ready for a bath? I put everything she needs in the bathroom." When she turns to leave, she gives me a kind smile. I hope I get to see her again. I would like to thank her for feeding me.

"Do you want to take a bath, its right across the hall. I can carry you if you need?"

"Okay..."

I can't remember the last time I was allowed to bathe. Any other time I was allowed to wash it was cold water in a bucket and dirty rag. My life had been so sad. I had no idea that people could live a different way. I was so overwhelmed.

Kairios picks me up, I'm so light it seems I don't burden him at all. He cradles me close to his chest and all I can smell is honey and roses. His muscles are hard as rocks. I can trace my fingers around each line. His warmth makes me feel so at ease. I could stay in his arms without complaint.

When we enter the bathroom, I see a large tub in the center with a chair and a table beside it. On the table I see bottles of scented liquids, a hair brush and some towels. The tub is filled with steaming water with little flowers floating on the surface. Kairios places me down on the chair and turns to leave the room.

"If you need anything," his sentence is cut off by my arms wrapping around him.

"Please don't go, I'm afraid to be alone. I don't know how to use all this stuff in here." I'm so embarrassed I have to admit all of this to him. I know that by asking him to stay he will see all of me. But I can't stand to be away from him.

I can feel his body tense under my arms and I worried I upset him. He turns around as I start to let him go and says,

" I'll stay if that's what you want. Come over here, I'll show you what everything is. Then I'll help you get in the bath."

What had I gotten myself into?