Someone Has to Say It

Miri and I stumbled onto the road leading down the mountain. I couldn’t muster the strength to Become, to fly us away, to her home, to some place else. Instead, it was all I could do to keep her on her feet as we walked in the drizzling rain.

Her forearms were burned, the skin covered in large, painful-looking welts, but she didn’t complain. She didn’t say anything at all.

Headlights cut across the road ahead of us and I lifted my arm to block the searing light. Before the car even came to a stop, the passenger-side door opened and Cornelius lunged out. At the sight of him, Miri lost all strength to stand and collapsed onto the ground.

“Longinus!” Cornelius called, and he was there, gathering Miri into his arms.

“We must get her to the hospital.” Cornelius bustled after him and helped Longinus put Miri in the backseat.