When They Beg, I Rise!

Lemira was gently lifted from the debris-strewn area and placed carefully on the couch.

Orion leaned over her with a sigh, "Next time when I say 'don't move,' I mean it. If you can't keep your head straight, at least try not to wander off!" There it was, Lemira got scolded.

She hung her head low, mumbled, "I didn't mean to knock over that vase!"

The warmth on Lemira's face rose significantly, grateful for the darkness veiling their surroundings, sparing her the embarrassment of her red-flushed face being seen. Why was she even flustered? Orion was her mentor, and her friend.

She shouldn't be having such scattered thoughts.

Orion pulled out his cell phone and dialed with a tone as cold as the night, "Check why we've lost power."

Lemira glanced around the dim room, her eyes finally resting on Orion, the only source of light emanating from his phone.

"Where's Thaddeus? Didn't he come back with you?"

"He's out at the bar, won't be back tonight."

"Why didn't you go?"

She knew adults loved their bar nights, especially the rich kids, hitting bars was their norm for unwinding.

The Langston boys did the same, mostly for socializing.

broke through her

Lemira wasn't

Orion always favored tranquility.

"I'm kinda curious, how did someone as quiet as

them was stark; it's hard to

for a moment before replying, "My grandma used to say I was too quiet, told me to find a friend who could talk enough for the both of us, so I wouldn't turn into a mute." Lemira found the idea of

ask, "So, you've known

might've shared too much, Orion paused,

you have such a close

a

darkness masked her face from Orion's view as he asked, "Didn't

did, but after my parents died

and

everything about

place, emotionally.

family. You know the rest Evelina made sure I was isolated at school, never really had friends

she mentioned the accident, his voice barely a whisper, "All these years, you never remembered anything about the accident?" "I don't, and I rather not

sighed, "If not for

alive, Evelina wouldn't be in my life, and maybe, just maybe, my relationship

there are no what-ifs