I roll on my side; somehow I’d lain on my bed and closed my eyes. The blaring sun kisses and pulls up my eyelids, and I am greeted by the morning sun; somehow I’d closed my balcony door and left the curtains wide open.
Knock knock knock
I missed dinner.
Knock knock knock
When did I fall asleep?
“Miss Amadis?”
I roll myself off the plush comforter - I hadn’t even changed or got in the bed - and walk toward the door, rubbing the tired out of my eyes.
I open the door to see a man who I was sure was older than me, but not any taller than I, so I could not conclude anything.
“Oh, hello Miss Amadis. We had not seen you at dinner last night, so I came to check on you. Is everything alright?”
“Yes, everything is fine - I’d fallen asleep, I guess, without coming down.”
“Perfectly understandable,” the man says, smiling with a little titter at the end. He somewhat reminds me of an elf, “We will be departing the camp in approximately two hours - it’s a long drive - so you have some time to prepare and visit down in the halls.”
“Thank you, Mister…”
“-Dryadali. Finn Dryadali,” he makes a little titter again. Yep - definitely elf.
“Okay, thank you Mister Dryadali.” I force a smile and close the door. I check the clock (6:30am) and jump back onto the bed. It’s still warm, and I feel so tempted to roll myself under the covers and just sleep all day until I remember ____________. My best friend is still sleeping near a stream, near trees, near a horrifying monster that caused me to leave him stranded by himself. Returning to him and honoring him is the least I can do.
I shower and walk out to the living area of my little apartment. I close the curtains and realize I don’t have any clothes. I open one of the drawers on the armoire under the television, not expecting to find anything, but nonetheless discovering it full of all-colored shirts. I dress in undergarments, first, then pull on a red t-shirt and black shorts.
I sit on the bed again, watching the clock blink its digital numbers at me. I imagine it trying to send me morse code, like it’s trying to communicate even though it doesn’t have a voice.
After about an hour since Mister Dryadali’s visit, I grab my metal key and leave the room to go downstairs.
