551 No Matter What

LERRIN

Lerrin woke without waking. Aware first that he was, then that he remained. That he was not dead… yet.

But as he swam back to consciousness he knew something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

As he came back to his body he could not move. Could barely breath, he was so consumed by pain. Everything hurt. Then, before he'd even opened his eyes, he tried to curl himself around the center of the pain—his middle—but even tensing his muscles to move caused a cascade of agony. He groaned.

"Lerrin? Lerrin? Open your eyes. Please!"

He tried. That voice called him and he tried. But he was so tired, and there was so much pain. Then soft, warm fingers appeared on his, squeezing his palm.

"I'm here, Lerrin. I'm so sorry it took me so long to… I'm here."