Does Time Really Heal All Wounds? [Roll Call]

Posted on Sun Jan 7th, 2024 @ 5:41pm by Kerilia Dosivi & Teevs Dosivi

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Quarters
Timeline: MD5, 01:41 h :: After "Last Looks"
823 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Teevs had informed Kerilia that the nightmares were caused by a device, and that the device had been removed from the ship and destroyed. She thought she'd be happy, or maybe relieved, that the nightmares would end. Instead, Kerilia found herself laying on her side and staring at the wall in her room, the ache in her chest preventing sleep. Her mind was active, yet she couldn't acknowledge a thought if she tried, like a sort of fog was trying to make the memories not as sharp in her mind. She was scared, scared of seeing the worst day of her life happen yet again in her dreams, as it had been for the last few nights.

It had been years since she had had the nightmares, and yet they seemed to tear her apart as much as they did back then. The never-quite-forgotten sensation of an arm across her body, keeping her suspended and unable to run, churned her stomach. That Nelorin's arm made her helpless, unable to get away or keep whatever he had planned for her from happening. She now knew that the Nelorin sometimes abducted children for the Thaih'ea, which made that day much more terrifying. She was that close to never seeing her parents again.

Kerilia rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling.

The Nelorin had gifted her with the awareness that a new face could try to take her again. It had damaged her childhood view of the galaxy, an understanding that bad things happen but not knowing why it happened to good people. Why it happened to her. She used to love showing guests around the Spheia, and after that day, she let her dad handle it, instead choosing to hide from strangers. It took a while to rebuild her confidence, to change her fear of strangers into a reserved shyness. Kerilia hated the fear, yet that doubt lingered every time she met someone new.

The seams in the ceiling started to blur, and Kerilia quickly blinked to try and get rid of the grief in her eyes. The nightmares brought back the fear of being stolen, of being given to someone else to be used, experimented on. It also brought back an agonizing pain that burned her throat, the same kind she remembered feeling back then. The fear in her mom and dad's eyes when they saw Kerilia in the hands of the Nelorin was one she'd never forget. She was too young at the time to question how much her parents loved her, but even at her young age, she knew that her parents would do anything for her after seeing them fear for her life.

That same love killed Mom.

Kerilia couldn't stop the tears if she tried. Quiet sniffles occupied the bedroom as tears tracked down the sides of her face. Memories came back in rapid succession. The memory of being released, pain in her side from the Nelorin's armor scratching her. She had barely managed to get back to Teevs when there was weapons fire. Mom fell. The haunting scream from Dad when he tried to keep Mom alive. The blood. Shock. Mom's glossy stare as her hand holding Kerilia's grew weak. Dad sobbing over Mom's body. The Nelorin fleeing. Helpless.

Helpless.

Her room suddenly felt unfamiliar. Sitting up, Kerilia shivered, not out of cold but from the fear resurfaced by her memories. Her heart was pounding, her hands clammy. Slipping out of bed, she cautiously left her room, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Quietly, so as to not disturb the silence of the quarters, Kerilia made her way to Teevs' room. Since the nightmares started, he had been keeping his door open so if she needed him, she could come in. Peeking into the room, she saw a figure under the covers and quietly approached to confirm it was him.

Stopping by the bed, she saw that he was also awake, staring at the wall like she had been, and their eyes met. Kerilia could see a similar pain in his eyes. Was he thinking about Mom, too? Her eyes shifted to the blankets as Teevs held them up, a silent invitation to seek comfort. Kerilia obliged, sliding under the covers and into his embrace. His arms around her were different than that of the Nelorin's; they were warm, strong, secure. She was safe here.

She buried her face into his chest and hugged him tightly, staining his shirt with her tears. Teevs was always there for her, and his embrace told her that he would be here again. The people of this ship seemed trustworthy enough, and the care toward each other that she had seen gave her some assurance that if she were in danger, they would protect her. Kerilia knew she could eventually return to some sense of normal, as she had done it before.

But how long would it take this time?

 

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