08-23-2014, 12:28 PM
More nightmares had punctuated the night's sleep, and in the dark Ekene had whimpered over the pain in his hand. The first shafts of grey dawn light armoured his expression to iron, and he quietened at the birth of a new day, eyes black and staring as his demons retreated. Natalie sat with him silently, knees pulled up to her chest. The fireblanket draped over the both of them, and Ekene's head rested lightly against her arm. Words of comfort died in her throat; there was just the staunchness of her presence, the promise to see through the night with him. But as light brightened the corners of the room, she finally urged him to get up to wash and brace the day, appropriating the bathroom herself when he was done.
Breakfast arrived as it had the day before, and Natalie eked the morning's news from the soldier who delivered it. Ekene seemed less tense in the legionnaire's presence then he had before, though he said nothing even when the man nodded a cordial greeting to him. A small progress. Once the door had closed, Natalie retreated to the couch to share the tray between them, balancing a cup of mint tea on her knee. The day unfurled blank before them, but Natalie didn't intend to waste it.
The second knock was unanticipated, and after her eyes glanced up at the door they shifted to Ekene. He hadn't looked up from the food. "Yes?"
Breakfast arrived as it had the day before, and Natalie eked the morning's news from the soldier who delivered it. Ekene seemed less tense in the legionnaire's presence then he had before, though he said nothing even when the man nodded a cordial greeting to him. A small progress. Once the door had closed, Natalie retreated to the couch to share the tray between them, balancing a cup of mint tea on her knee. The day unfurled blank before them, but Natalie didn't intend to waste it.
The second knock was unanticipated, and after her eyes glanced up at the door they shifted to Ekene. He hadn't looked up from the food. "Yes?"