The first thing I register is that I’m in the healing center, and too many people to count are hugging me from every direction.
“Everyone away! Give her room to breathe!” That’s undeniably Elwin. “Sophie, Fitz, and Keefe can stay in, and Grady, Edaline, and Dex can stay in if you stay on the other side of the room so I have some room to work.”
“You’re really back!” Sophie says. It looks like she’s been crying. Everyone does.
“I’m back.” I agree. “Wh- what happened?”
“I was so scared. I… I couldn’t heal you at first. You’ve been here for two days.”
“But we did get you back.” Keefe says, putting a hand on Sophie’s shoulder.
“This was so different from last time… it was worse…” I say.
“I could tell. It was like there was another… thing in your head.” Sophie says. “Please never do that again.”
“I don’t want to, but…” I might if I get another piece of news like this.
“Here, drink these.” Elwin hands me a few vials.
“What are they for?”
“Mostly to help you handle your emotions well, and to help with that headache I can see. I tried to make them taste decent, but here’s some lushberry juice.”
“Thanks.” I chug the elixirs he handed me.
“Do you think you’ll be ok?” Dex asks from across the room.
“Yeah. Can they come over here yet?”
“Sure, but they have to respect it if you say you need some space.” Elwin says. The second the words leave his lips, all three of them come running over.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again” Edaline says, wrapping me in a hug.
“I missed you so much kiddo.” Grady says, joining us.
“I missed you guys too.” They pull away, and I can see Dex a few feet away, waiting. “Dex…” He wraps me in the tightest hug ever.
“Don’t do that to me.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“I was so worried we wouldn’t get you back…”
“I know. And I heard what you said to try and get me back.”
“You did?”
“It almost worked. I was able to call for help, but I think you left before I had enough in me to fight it.”
“I knew I should have kept trying. I… I meant every word I said.” He lets go of me, and I can see a tear rolling down his face.
“I love you too.” I realize that I’m crying. Neither of us say it, but we both know we’ll talk more later.
“Come on, she needs to rest.” Elwin says.
“Wait, can I talk to everyone else too?” He sighs.
“Ten minutes.” Biana runs in first, followed by Linh, Marella, Stina, Tam, Wylie, Juline, Kesler, Bronte, Oralie, Emery, Magnate Leto, Alden, Della, Wraith, and Blur. Even the triplets were allowed in.
“Wow. Everyone came. Like everyone.”
“It looks like you’ve made quite a few friends here Ms. Ruewen.” Emery says.
“I guess I have.” Just looking at all the people who care about me brings a tear to my eye.
“We all missed you so much.” Della says, leaning in for a hug. A bunch of other people join in, until I can’t tell whose hands are whose.
“You know we’ll have to talk later.” Magnate Leto says.
“I do.”
“Let her worry about it when it’s time for that.” Oralie says. “For now, just focus on resting.”
“Alright, everybody out. She needs sleep.” Elwin says. Everyone seems disappointed, but they file out anyways, after one last hug. “For the record, I’m lgad to have you back too. Which is why I insist you take a sedative. We don’t need you losing any sleep over some nightmare.”
“Alright.”
“I already mixed it with lushberry juice.”
“Thank you.” I dutifully drink it, and drift off to sleep.