You Can't Die, You Promised

LaRee watched his father for a few seconds, cautiously…

When LaRee was certain that there was no reaction, he exhaled slowly. LaRee's shoulders eased up, with his arms suddenly feeling much lighter. His feet were no longer heavy as LaRee walked the short, three-legged stool beside the bed.

Now relaxed, LaRee needed only one more moment of calm breathing to fully steady his thoughts.

"... I wish you were up…" LaRee groaned through his hands while rubbing his face. "You know. I never believed you. To be careful what I wish for. That the wish might hurt me.

"Until now…"

LaRee's gaze was tenderized a bit more with each word leaving his mouth and mind. Without thinking, LaRee was looking back at his father's unmoving, slow-breathing face.

"I'm sorry. This isn't what I wanted. I didn't expect Sky God to answer this way. To hurt you… I wanted to meet a sky fiend. Not for a sky fiend to hurt you. Even though Ayse didn't mean to…"

Blinking, LaRee looked away from his father's face. The next few words refused to come out while LaRee stared back at his father's proud visage. So LaRee looked away and forced those words out. He didn't want them bottled up any longer.

"Still… I want you awake. I want you well. You must fulfill your promise. Another sky fiend finally appeared. Now, you must tell me what happened. You must tell me about my mother… So, you're not allowed to die. You must get up. You must hear out Ayse. You must explain everything… Just as you promised. Death is not allowed to take you. You still have promises to complete."

By that point, LaRee was clenching his fists and curling his toes inside his moccasins. He took a moment to breathe and stabilize his unbridled emotions.

"... Dad. Did you know about other worlds?" LaRee asked. A thin gloss of moisture coated his eyes. "... Is that why Mother left? Because she's from other worlds?"

LaRee looked back at his father with longing eyes.

It was no surprise when his father didn't reply or react. But it still hurt LaRee all the same. Because, this time, LaRee had far more information to consider.

"How come Uncle LaRae claims Mother as dead? Yet you never let me say the same? I never understood. Until now, I think…" LaRee verbally shared his journey while traversing between his wandering thoughts. "Mom isn't dead… That's why you don't let anyone say that. Not in front of you, at least. Mother is just… elsewhere. On a new planet, perhaps. And we have no way to see her.

"... Is that why you don't talk about her?"

Again, LaRee felt a blend of relief and pain. It felt great to speak those thoughts aloud, in front of his father no less. And it hurt to be denied any form of reaction or response.

LaRee continued, "You still love Mom. And you say that Mom loves you and I. That's what you also say to me, to Grandma. Then how could she leave? Why would she? If she loves us, why leave me as a baby? It doesn't make sense.

"And you never mentioned flying boats. You said Mother fell from the sky. A gift to you from Sky God. But the village hates Mother. I can tell from their looks. From how they ignored child me. Anyone would be able to tell. Only, they don't speak about her. Because no one is allowed to. You and the elders ban the mention of the sky fiend…"

A part of LaRee wanted to bend over and shake his father awake. But LaRee maintained control of himself. The one things LaRee couldn't control were the tears of frustration and past sorrow welling up in his eyes.

"... There are more planets. More worlds. And we are weak compared to those worlds. Ayse showed me that," LaRee stated with a sigh.

"... Dad… How did Mom leave? How come we're banned from discussing it? What curse happened because of Mom? … Please. Wake up and tell me. You promised."

LaRee hurried to his feet and rushed out of the room, wiping the water from his eyes.

Then, with the room clear, Chief LaRoe's eyes slowly opened. And he tried to swallow down his rampant emotions and thoughts along with the saliva stuck in his throat. But LaRoe failed. His long-suppressed feelings wouldn't be swept aside without a fight, this time.

As LaRee exited the medical room, he was surprised by the calming scent of tea.

"Come, Little Ree. Sit with Grandma."

LaRee was unfazed by the sight of his blind grandma pouring tea. So he accepted the offer, sitting across from his grandmother on a three-legged stool with a pelt cushion. "... Thank you, Grandma."

"Now, now, Little Ree. Cheer up. Your father is fine. With rest, he'll be back to normal. There's no need to cry, child," the wise, old woman said.

Quickly, LaRee wiped all lingering moisture from his eyes. "Yes. You're right. Sorry, Grandma. I didn't mean to show weakness–"

Smack…

"There is no weakness in tears, child. Not in honorable tears. Or in tears of involuntary suffering," stated the grandma, pulling her hand back in order to sip some tea.

LaRee touched his reddening cheek. Smiling, LaRee began to ease up again. "... Thank you, Grandma. You always care for me."

"Don't mention it, Little Ree." She got back up and walked to the small fire in the corner. While hanging the teapot on a rod above the dwindling flames, her eyes were briefly stuck on the medical room curtain. "... Excuse me for a moment. I must change a few bandages for your father."

"Then allow me to help–"

"No, Little Ree. You will stay at the table. I'll be back in less than a minute…" she said, waltzing through the room's curtain faster than LaRee could expect from an elderly woman.

True to her word, the old woman reappeared only seconds later.

"Little Ree. Allow me to show you something…" Her voice drifted slightly as she rushed into her personal room. But she continued speaking all the same. "LaRee, do you know who I am?"