Sleeping beauty

Her chest rose and fell steadily. Like it had been doing for hours since he awakened. He had woken up the next morning. Her lids didn't even flutter once. She looked peaceful as though she had slipped into a coma but without the incessantly beeping machine that would probably be needed to keep her alive.

He had been so close to calling a doctor before he remembered she was visible only to him. She was his responsibility. He was the reason for her current condition. He should have not entered the house and let her follow.

At first, he had thought she overreacted but any decent human being would have tried to intervene. He changed his mind on seeing her level of desperation. It seemed the events that unfolded in front of her had hit close to home.

Watching her on his king-size, hopefully sleeping peacefully and nothing severe. It made him reminisce about his childhood before it turned sour. His favourite princess had been sleeping beauty. Sarah reminded him of Aurora. Mostly her perpetual slumber. Her unruly brown hair spilt across his pillows. Her restful face radiated tenderness though it was as still as a corpse.

It was evening now. He made something to eat for the first time that day. He took a bath afterwards and went back to her. For a moment he was her prince and she was a princess. A sleeping beauty. He chuckled to himself remembering how stupid he had been to believe in fairy tales.

As he sat again, he noticed a strand of hair and fallen on her face. He saw no point in tucking it back in place but still cautiously did. He noticed however that she was burning up. She had a fever! He could not administer drugs to her because she had not eaten all day.

He miraculously remembered his mother's method, tepid sponging. He left the room to get the needed implements. He got back with a bowl of warm water and a small towel and got to work mopping her body.

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Miguel was dressed in black to blend in better at night. He pulled out his binoculars, spying at the man. He watched him warm some water and disappear further into the house.

What was it for? Was there someone else in there? His brother had already left. And no one went in with him. Strange. He was probably alone and delusional. He was seeing a shink anyway so that increased the odds. But that would be the least of his problems by the time his boss was done with him.

Sneaking up to the house he dropped a sheet of paper at the doorstep and retreated into the woods leaving boot prints on the path he threaded. He got back in a safe position and dialled his boss.