Bandages and Wounds

by Virdan Zandril

Not only did I end up hurt, but Charlie was put in danger because of me. How could I let that happen? I just froze out there.... Jerris Merris? Really? I really thought the Crown's Guard would just.. accept that? Why did I even get her mixed up in all of this anyway. I should have stayed in the woods...

Trill says the danger is all part of the fun, but I don't see what's so exciting about getting stabbed with a shortsword...

If anything good came out of today it was seeing Kayrin and Rholis smiling to Charlie's music and playing Name the Animals with me (even if Kayrin was being sarcastic and Trill was making up animals). Even Tali was enjoying themselves there. For a moment things felt...normal again. Maybe this is all worth that alone. I would take a thousand sword slashes to the chest if it meant feeling that feeling again and knowing my siblings are feeling it too. Maybe that's what it will take. A thousand wounds. Shendra could face it but... can I? I don't know...

I miss you, Shendra. But know that we aren't alone. Charlie's got our back. I don't know why, and I don't know for how long, but I'm really glad we met her. She's about your age, maybe a little older. She isn't like you really, but having someone there around your age is... comforting. For a second I felt like you were with us again. Like you didn't go and enlist but...learned how to play music and sing instead. And turned pink. And could... turn green? So... like if you were a different person entirely who was named Charlotte...or Charlie... or Lottie? I don't know exactly what I mean here, but it made me happy and then made me sad at the same time, kind of like looking at a bandage. You're happy to be wrapped up in something, but you know underneath your skin is torn and bleeding. Charlotte made me feel like my heart was whole again, for a second, but then I remembered why it was broken in the first place and that broke it more...

Maybe I'm glad things turned out the way they did though... still embarrassed and guilty about Charlie getting hurt, but glad all the same. I don't know...Maybe this is what Trill was talking about. Adventure and exploration means you have to get hurt a little to enjoy the good moments. Is this what dad felt before he met mom? He was hurt when he met her. And he always said she was worth it. Maybe....Maybe I found something similar. Maybe my wounds will heal under these bandages and when I take them off I'll realize there isn't a wound anymore. There will still be a scar... but maybe it won't hurt as much. Maybe...maybe I can heal.

Continue reading...

Bandages and Wounds
29th Brussendar, 835 P.D.

Shepherd of the Lost
29th Brussendar, 835 P.D.

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3rd of Sydenstar, 835 P.D.

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Dust, Wind and Bones
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Dear Panlo

Dear Charlie

Dear Ael

Dear Gael

Dear Trill

Dear Thistle

Dear Virdan

Blue and White
14 of Sydenstar, 835

Bandages and Wounds

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