The Game
His eyelids still fluttered like dying butterflies. Mine began to burn as I remember the need to blink. I have become so focused on watching the movement of his eyes jolting behind the wrinkled flaps of flesh protecting them that I myself have forgotten the effect of not blinking. Finally his eyelids begin to slowly part revealing the shade of green I remember so well. Those green eyes that have peered at me countless times and such a range of emotions now look so different, unrecognizable.
He groans and tries to move with no luck. I tied those knots way too tight to allow it. His eyes grow wider now. The green spheres dash from side to side then up and down, trying to focus, attempting to make some sense of the overwhelming confusion. Then finally they lock onto me.
“Caroline?” He mutters in a confused voice
Honestly I was taken back. My entire life he has never called me by that name. My uncle liked to come up with nicknames for me. “Carebear” or “Angel” were usually how he addressed me. I took into account how difficult the last few years must have been for him but I never would have imagined him forgetting the names he called me.
“Uncle Bryan” I responded
“What is this?”
The wind picked up and whipped around his grey hair and beard which he never wore before. His eyes were filled with fear.
“Welcome Home” I plainly say
“Why am I tied to a tree?” He pleaded
I ask myself that very question now, why? For some unknown reason the idea was planted into me to tie him to a tree in the woods, the very woods he used to take me to play long ago.
“It seemed right. Now that you are finally home we can play our favorite game”
His face grew more distorted with fear and confusion. He could not have forgotten our favorite game. He taught it to me.
“Caroline, what are you doing?” He pleads
“Like I said, we can play our favorite game. Don’t you remember our game? Doctor? I changed a few of the rules, I think this time I will be the doctor and you can be the patient.”
