Bed Time

Bed Time.

“Mmm. I’m tired…” Kryrella yawned.

“Look up.” Zevor pointed at the moon, “Isn’t it bright tonight?”

“Yeah…it…it’s very pretty.” Kryrella’s eyes struggled to stay open.

“Ever thought of the clouds at night? Notice how much more…comforting they feel at night than in the morning?” Zevor had his arms behind his head.

“I guess…the clouds feel open, massive and big, like giant fluffy mountains. But at night they feel like blankets for the moon, and a nice blanket for me too.”

“Absolutely.”

“Can…I sleep out here?”

“Sure, just…stay on the roof okay?”

“Yeah. I…”

“…You ready to turn in for the night?”

“It’s so warm. The night sky feels so…encapsulating like I’m gonna fall into a deep slumber and lie here forever with you by my side.”

“That sounds very nice Kryrella.” Zevor sniffed.

The wind stood still in the cool and open air. The moonlight, swallowing Zevor and Kryrella.

Kryrella raised her right arm and sighed.

“To be…held by the night. There’s something about that that feels so…trusting.”

“Yeah. I see what you mean.”

“Hey, where’s Zazzory?”

“She’ll be-“

“I’m right here.”

Zevor turned, slightly startled, “Oh. Well, nevermind.”

“It’s kind of cold out here is it not?” Zazzory asked as she sat between Zevor and Kryrella.

“Oh absolutely, that’s why I asked you to bring blankets.”

“Of course, I have them.”

“The moon is…kinda bright.” Kryrella pointed.

“I agree. Say, don’t you guys ever feel comfortable during nights…like these?” Zevor tilted his head.

Zazzory rocked her feet, “I guess…I feel…normal.”

“‘Normal?’” Zevor repeated.

“Yeah. Every time I’m out, I feel…like…like I have to subsurface some parts of me. I like it when the moon is out. It reminds me that there isn’t just a sun.”

“…Wow. I didn’t think you’d say that this early into the night.”

“I supposed I’d say it and get it over with.”

“Fair I guess.” Zevor sighed, “Well I feel indifferent and not indifferent in a bad way but indifferent, like I’m finally able to just be a big brother instead of a king for once.”

“I thought you liked being king.” Zazzory said.

“Of course I do! It’s just that, getting a moment’s rest is all I need; to be with you guys, and I can only do that at night. What about you, Kryrella?”

A soft smile creased on Kryrella’s face as she tried to turn away and hide it, …

“K?” Zevor asked patiently.

She loosened her shoulders, “…I feel at home.”

Zevor and Zazzory turned to her.

“I don’t ever want anything to happen to us, to our home. We belong here…I feel at peace here…like nothing can go wrong. Is that so wrong? Is that so wrong to think?”

Kryrella wiped her eyes, “I mean I love it here! I love it! Please…is it so wrong? To live peacefully?”

Zevor and Zazzory turned to each other. Zazzory looked down. Zevor smiled once more, “No. No and it will never be! I think you are very right Kryrella. I love it here too! It is not wrong to long for an everlasting life! Wouldn’t you agree, Zazzory!?”

“Zazzory slowly lifted her head, her eyes still down, “I don’t think you couldn’t be more…right. You are very right…I feel the same.” She clenched her fists.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Zevor tapped her leg.

“It’s not that I disagree. I just…huh. I will tell you later.”

“No, now. While we’re all here.”

Zazzory clutched her shoulder, “Zevor…do you honestly think this’ll last forever!?”

Kryrella lifted her head, her eyes filled with worry, the moonlight illuminating behind her.

The wind moved so subtly, enough to fiddle with their hair.

“You think this’ll-you think this won’t last!?”

“I…”

Zevor sat up quickly, “-Now hold up! That’s enough! Now I’m sure we’re all worried about whether this’ll last or not but that is not your worry, that is mine! Kryrella I assure you even if something goes wrong, you will never be away from home because I am your home! And Zazzory I know you are worried about Kryrella, about me! But rest assured that even if this doesn’t last, so what!? Why worry about that now? I love both of you! And I’m never going to ever be apart from you no matter what, okay!?”

Zazzory softly nodded, her eyes still down, “Mm.”

Kryrella raised her eye brows. Her eyes opened wider. A twinkle sparkled in her pupils.

Zevor looked at Kryrella. The wind flowing through his hair. The deep blue in his eyes parting the darkness. His gaze was all she could see.

Slowly, she shook her head, “You…how do you know…you don’t know that.”

“No. No you’re right I don’t. But that does not mean I won’t love you any less to do anything I can to keep you-the both of you alive-with me! We are family! Not this house, not this kingdom, us! …Us.”

Kryrella’s eyes shifted, “‘Us’?” She said to herself.

“All of us.” Zevor finished.

Zazzory looked up, her eyes glossy, “How? What about you? Hm? Who’s gonna be there for you? We didn’t ask you to look after us and ignore yourself!”

“I never said I’d never love myself”

“-I never said you hated yourself!”

“-Wait you hate yourself!?”

“-No! No! No. I don’t Kryrella…” Zevor slammed his palms on his legs, “I don’t hate myself and I don’t not acknowledge my well-being. But this is what I’m afraid of! I’m afraid of both of you guys worrying so much about me when you really don’t need to.” Zevor’s eyes were blue.

…

…

Zazzory looked over to her side, hiding her eyes, “I’m…sorry. Sorry. Sorry that won’t happen anymore.”

“I don’t want it to not happen anymore. I just want us to be…open.” Zevor released the tension from his chest, “I will start by saying. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you worry about me, Zazzory. I’m sorry for not always being there with and for you Kryrella. I have been…so stressed out that I think I just need a well deserved and very long nap.”

Kryrella lifted her finger, her mouth a small slit. A small whistle of emptiness escaped through her teeth.

Zazzory looked up at the dark grey and black sky.

“Just a nap. A long one indeed.”

Kryrella grunted. She crawled closer to Zazzory and hugged her.

Zazzory sat still.

Zevor glanced over. His expression, hollow at first. Then again he looked back, this time, wistful.

Kryrella dug her head into Zazzory’s shoulder. Zazzory took her right arm and crossed it over Kryrella. A small tear fell down her cheek. It sparkled in the moonlight.

Zevor slowly moved closer.

He moved closer.

And finally, he wrapped his arms around both of them.

The clouds moved away from the moon. The moon, shining on them, like water reflecting light.

The chorus of the grass, a soft song of somberness.