Getting Permission

I was sitting next to Mr. Briar, Mom was passing out the plates, and Dad was sitting to my left, at the head of the table. Aside from the fact that there was a near complete stranger at the table with us, this was just any other normal lunch. Nothing was different or out of the ordinary. So, why was I feeling nervous?

I had to wonder if it was because I was excited to possibly learn how to be a healer like Mr. Briar, or if it was because I was scared to learn how to be a healer like him. I mean, having any job prospects was amazing. In my previous life I had no prospects in life at all. I wasn't ever going to become anything at all. I was just going to be a leech on my family and society. That was all that there had been for me, and I knew it.

Now, though, in this new world, I could actually dream. I could make plans for the future. I could do anything that I wanted. And I didn't want anything to take that away from me.

Another thing that was probably making my heart all fluttery, was the fact that Mr. Briar told me he could tell me what the marks on my wrists were. I had been wondering about them for years now, and I was excited that someone actually knew what they were. Maybe he could also tell me why I even had them in the first place.

Oooh, this was getting to be so nerve wracking. And lunch hadn't even officially started yet.

"I hope the meal is to your satisfaction, Mr. Briar." Mom said as she sat the last plate on the table, and we started to eat as a family.

"Please, Mrs. Mercer, just call me Briar." He smiled at her before continuing. "And I assure you it looks wonderful and smells even better. I usually cook for myself and, since it's just me, I don't usually put much effort into it." He looked a little embarrassed after having said that, a slight blush tingling his cheeks a little.

"I am glad that you think so, Briar. Please, eat as much as you like. I made plenty in honor of Addison finally being awake and all of us eating together again. It may have only been a few days, but to me it felt like months since we were all together like this." I could see the relief on Mom's face as she looked around the table at all of us.

"I am glad that you are all together again as well. And I am also very happy that Addie has awoken. There is something that I would like to talk to you all about, if you don't mind. Something regarding Addie."

I saw both of my parents and my brother stiffen at Mr. Briar's words. I could guess that they were worried that I was not completely better yet. It was evident that they were still very worried about me.

"What is it?" Dad asked, his face tight and his eyes tense.

"I can sense in Addie that she would make a good healer. Someone who does the same kind of work that I do."

That had obviously not been what they were expecting him to say. The shock that was on their faces was plain for us all to see.

"You.. want.. Addie to work with you?" Arthur sounded even more shocked than my parents.

"Yes. She is old enough for an apprenticeship now, isn't she? And I can tell that she has the making of a true healer. I believe that this will be the best option for her."

"Are you sure? What do you think, Addie?" Dad looked at me, truly curious about what it was that I wanted in this situation.

Honestly, knowing how this world was, and that my future would ultimately be decided by my parents, specifically my father, I didn't think that I would have a say in this. I thought that the most that would happen would be Dad and Mr. Briar talking about it and deciding things amongst themselves. I didn't think that I would be asked anything right now.

"W..well, I think that it would be a good thing for me to do. If I can help people when they get sick, then they don't ever have to worry. I don't want our family or other families to suffer. Not like you guys did and not like the butcher's family did. I don't want anyone to worry about getting sick and dying if I can help them."

I did my best to tell them what it was that I was thinking. And I think it worked too, because my dad was smiling at me with gentle eyes.

"That is just like you, Addie. You love people so much, and you try helping them so much, that you put them above yourself." Dad's tender smile and kind words were making me feel happier than I had been in a while. "If this is what you want, Addie, then I see no problem with it. You will be a healer and train alongside Briar."

"Thank you, Dad."

"Thank you, Mercer." Mr. Briar and I thanked Dad at the same time, and I could feel excitement bubbling up inside of me. I was going to be training soon. I was going to learn how to be a healer.

We all started to eat then, enjoying our food and a good conversation. Mr. Briar didn't talk that much, but I could tell that he was happy to be here with us. I think that he was a little bit on the lonely side and had been missing a family meal like this. Perhaps we will invite him to join us more often.

After lunch, I was feeling much stronger. I wanted to walk Mr. Briar home, so I knew where to go tomorrow for my first healer lesson. However, Mr. Briar put a stop to that.

"You're not quite strong enough just yet. Rest up tonight and get some exercise tomorrow. In two days' time, I will come to get you and show you the way to my home. Only then will you be allowed to come for your lessons."

"Alright." I pouted a little as he told me what to do. He was just looking out for me, and I knew that, but I was eager to get started. I mean, I was going to learn something new in this world that I still barely understood. I didn't know much beyond my family and village. And while I wouldn't be leaving the village, I was going to be taught by someone who had lived in other places. He could teach me so much.

I just needed to be patient, I guess. Patient and obedient, that was all I could be until Mr. Briar came back to get me.

This was going to be hard. How was I going to survive these next few days? Ugh! Just hold it together, Addie, it isn't really all that long. Just two days. Two long, long days.