Young Writers Society

James slowly turned his head to look at Evaline.

She’d said we. Several years from now, together they might see his family. She was thinking about the future too.

He averted his gaze back to his plate.

“Maybe,” he said quietly.

He didn’t know if he could even imagine that. Seeing them from afar. He didn’t know why the thought almost hurt more - that he would see them, but never speak to them.

“Sometimes I think it’s better for me... not knowing.”

He was afraid of disappointment. He was afraid things got worse when he left. He was afraid of a lot of things. At least, without knowing, he didn’t have to bear the burden of the truth, whatever it might be.

"I can understand that," Evaline said with the same gentle voice, trying to mimic James's usual patient understanding. "It's hard... to face the truth."

She smiled softly at him. If she had sat next to him, she'd have squeezed his hand, or his shoulder, or his knee. Just a little touch to communicate that she was thinking of him.

"But you don't have to think about that right now. Things change in the future. I'm sure someday your family will be a topic of discussion we can't ignore, but until then, let's focus on staying safe and healthy."

James looked over to Evaline, appreciative that she didn't press it. Things likely would change in the future, it was just uncertain how. He was glad she shifted the focus back to the present.

"Speaking of healthy," he said. "Are you feeling better? Now that you're getting more food in your stomach?"

Evaline had to suppress a laugh. "I'm not the one who's sick," she said, but she still appreciated the sentiments. "I'm okay, but I'll feel a whole lot better after you get better."

She leaned forward again, setting her elbow on her knee and resting her palm against her chin to lean against as she watched James eat.

"I'll keep a full canteen by the bed at all times, but you'll have to let me know if you're hungry between meals," she thought out loud. "I'm sure I can even put in a request if you want something specific."

James scoffed. "I wouldn't want to burden them with that. I'm just beyond grateful to have food and a safe place to stay. It's more than I could have thought to ask for, honestly."

He then took another bite of food. Speaking of food - he didn't want to take it for granted.

Evaline figured he'd say this, but she only smirked in response.

"By the way," she said after a few moments of silence as he continued eating. "Would you want to have people visiting you? It seems that you're popular among the oasis now."

James froze for a moment, with a mouthful of food, and he looked down at himself. Bandages and all.

"Cam I put on a shirt firsht?"

Evaline blew air out of her nose in amusement. "I should have asked you to put one on before giving you food so that you can use it as a bib."

James swallowed and grinned just a little, but it was mostly in embarrassment. The only reason he had put off wearing a shirt earlier was that he was so sweaty- both from the fever and the heat of the desert.

"I can put one on when I'm done," he said. "I'm not making a mess, now."

He paused, stacking up another forkful of food.

"Who... wants to see me?"

He looked up at Evaline in confusion. "Are you just joking with me?"

Evaline dropped her hand, but still leaned forward, shaking her head. "Oh. No, I'm not joking," she said with a small smile. "Edna seemed to want to check in with you time-to-time, and Sasha told me I'll have to help around with various chores, so I won't be here at all times. Plus, Edna made it seem like the kids might want to see you, but I also don't want to overwhelm you."

James took another bite, and he waited until he was done chewing before responding.

"Oh," he said. "The kids, huh."

"The kids," Evaline said with a nod. "And maybe Kurt, and Liana, and Mateo, and Ava. Like I said, you're really popular."

James looked down at his plate. He was close to clearing it, and he could feel his stomach starting to get full. It had definitely shrunk in the last few weeks, and getting a full meal was becoming very filling.

He scraped the last of the food onto his fork.

"As long as they don't come when I'm asleep and they don't expect me to be very coherent or chatty, it's fine," he said. "...I can't imagine they'll be stopping by all the time."

"Of course. I'm sure it's mostly a courtesy visit just to keep you company."

She watched as James seemed to eat the remainder of the food.

"Are you done?" she asked, mostly as a way to take away the plate.

James took his last bite, and with a mouth still full of food, nodded, lifting the plate up towards her.