OLD FRIEND

Once Melody was calm again we left to join the others who were all in their sleeping bags. She went where she was supposed to sleep while I switched off the light. I barely slept because everytime I closed my eyes I saw images of my deceased family, mutilated and bloody. Early in the morning I went out for a run to get things off my mind and I met Bernice. She wasn't wearing a sweater but a simple crop top with sweat pants. So she does know how to retract her wings.

"Morning Vermont." she greeted me with a bright smile.

I stopped running and greeted her back.

"Do you live nearby?" she asked putting her phone in her pocket.

"No. I came here for a run. What about you?"

"I'm currently staying with a friend." she said nodding to herself then she turned to point at the house that was painted white and grey,"That one. I'll be moving out soon because her husband is coming back from his vacation next week."

"I see."

"Why did you leave home? I guess the responsibilities were a bit to much, huh."

I remained silent for a while but I maintained eye contact. She frowned at me while waiting for my response. Bernice is a talented river fairy and she used to teach many of the younger fairies what she knew. She taught me briefly before her disappearance.

"Why did you leave?" I asked back and her frown deepened.

"It's personal." she said rubbing her shoulder as if she was comforting herself.

"Does this personal reason have anything to do with the death of your husband?" I asked starting to walk back to the road I knew would lead me home.

She started following behind me quietly and she seemed a little sad.

"I didn't mean to upset you." I said looking at her.

"That's alright. So why did you leave?" she asked again and I turned to look in front of me,"I'm not so good at guessing as you are so just tell me."

"Garmen had executed a coup and killed my entire family." I explained simply,"I had no choice but to run....or fly."

"What?!" she exclaimed stopping in her tracks.

I didn't stop walking and soon she jogged a little to catch up to me.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

"How could you when you abandoned your family because you lost Kilman? If everyone just run to overcome pain, Delsa would be a wasteland."

"I was sad and confused. I didn't even know what was happening until I was already here. I didn't know how to come back home."

"Sure. Goodbye Bernice."

I started running again and she followed me. She was faster than I had expected and before I knew it we were racing.

"Give me your number!" she shouted catching up to me.

I run faster and realized I didn't know my phone number, I didn't even carry my phone with me. The family must have been worried about me since I had left before anyone was awake. I had come a long way from home. I stopped running when I almost.run into an old lady. She looked frightened and before I could apologize she collapsed. I caught her before she fell to the ground and Bernice first checked her pulse.

"She has a weak pulse. Let's take her to the hospital." Bernice said and I lifted her up in my arms while Bernice took her grocery bag.

We took a taxi and were at the hospital within ten minutes. The lady had no form of identification on her so it was hard to fill in her form.

"It's alright. We can ask her about her identity when she is awake." the nurse said taking the form from me,"But I'll need your credentials in case she can't pay the bill."

"Let me give you mine." Bernice offered.

We left afterwards and because Bernice didn't have enough money on her, we went running.

"So who are you staying with?!" Bernice asked gasping for air as we run.

"With my family." I answered.

"Family?! You're adopted?!"

"Yeah."

She didn't say anything for a while longer. I took the shortest route to go home so no one would be too worried about me.

"How tight is your belt?" I asked.

Bernice stopped running and I stopped a few meters ahead of her. She took some time to catch her breath while she was bent over.

"I....I haven't worked out since leaving home....so I'm.....out of shape. One sec."

"Take your time. I'll be walking." I said sighing tiredly,"If I knew this is how a morning run would end I'd never have left home."

"Hold on! I'm... I just need to catch my breath."

I started walking slowly and soon she caught up to me.

"It's 10:45 a.m." she said.

"Why are you following me?" I asked and she just smiled,"You were going somewhere before, weren't you?"

"No. I was just walking aimlessly. Let me meet your family."

"I don't want you to. You'll complicate things." I answered starting to run again.

With Melody at home adding Bernice would be a disaster. Mr Guilder might be at home for all I know. Bernice caught up to me quickly and after a few more minutes of running we were home. Sam was standing outside talking to none other than Mr Guilder and his wife. Sam looked in my direction and smiled making the couple turn as well.

"I told you he was on his way." Sam said.

"Sorry. I got side tracked." I apologized as I walked towards them,"Good morning Mr and Mrs Guilder."

"Morning Dee." they both responded.

"Hello everyone." Bernice greeted them all cheerfully.

"Morning." the three answered carefully looking at Bernice.

"Is this a friend of yours?" Sam asked smiling.

"Yes, from home." I answered and Sam nodded while carefully examining Bernice as if he was seeing her in a new light.

"Mel had a panic attack when she woke up and she was asking for you." Mrs Guilder said apologetically,"We had to put her to sleep but she'll probably want to see you after she wakes up."

Just then Melody screamed from one of the rooms and I can tell the room is close to my own. I run inside and quickly found the room. As I was entering the room I was greeted by a flying vase. It broke on my forehead and I fell backwards. I was certainly bleeding.

"Dee! You're here!" Melody exclaimed excitedly,"You're back!"

"Yeah." I responded weakly and Melody's face came into view.

"You're hurt." she whispered with a worried look in her face.

I smiled at her and patted her head. I sat up and touched my forehead and felt the warm blood oozing out.

"I'll be alright. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes I did. Let's get that dressed." she said helping me stand.

The whole family was watching and I just smiled as Melody led me to the bed. The others left on Sam's order and I remained alone with Melody.

"Have Penelope and Riley gone home?" I asked while Melody looked for a first aid box.

"Yes. But don't worry....you have a better Penelope right here."

I didn't say anything because I knew she would be offended if I said she wasn't better. I waited until she finally managed to retrieve the first aid box. I was bandaged within a few minutes and I lay down on the bed.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked.

"Go ahead."

"Do....do you like Penelope?"

The question caught me off guard and I took a few seconds to respond.

"Yes. I wouldn't be her friend if I didn't like her."

"So....you like me too?"

"Mhhm."

Melody smiled brightly and sat down on the bed. She sat quietly for a while then she asked,

"Where were you?"

"I went to run."

"They said you don't run."

"Because I go to school and the walk is sufficient exercise." I replied and she pursed her lips.

"You didn't run yesterday. That's what I mean."

"I forgot."

"Forget it. What took you so long?"

"Am I being interrogated?" I asked sitting up.

She shook her head sheepishly and then stood up.

"I run into someone I know. We talked a little and then I run into an old lady and gave her a heart attack. We took her to the hospital and didn't know what to use to fill in her form so it took a while. Then we came back."

"We?" she asked looking at me intently and I could see her shivering.

"We. My friend and I."

She nodded and then she sighed.

"Let's go meet your friend. Your friends are mine." she said smiling.

"She's at the door." I said and Melody looked at the door questioningly.

She looked at me again then went to open the door. Bernice was standing at the door like a statue with a smile on her face.