On Time

“Your skeletal structure is looking complete. Not a bone cracked or out of place. You’re in perfect condition, maybe even better given how it’s all mended together. How marvelous.”

Early in the morning, Hyla had come to finish her work with me. She’d immediately began her next series of health checks, taking a meticulous look to find any faults in my body. Even with her best mind put forward and some fellow doctor’s own opinions given, I’m found faultless.

The full beam she wears shines even more brightly than the light box that illuminates the x-rays she’d collected. An aura of high pride nearly forms a bouquet about her. There is a pleased she wears as she cradles her left elbow and graces her cheek with the light touch of her fingertips.

“I must say, you have quite a charming bone structure. It’s all so remarkably pieced together. So strong, held with such confidence, you’ve taken wonderful care of your body.”

Continuing to stare openly, so lost in focus on the images lit up on the white, I’m on standby for her next word but it arrives quite late.

“It’s been a busy morning. With this, would you say that I’m in good enough health to be released?”

“O-Oh! Right! Yes, my apologies!” She begins to fidget to find a comfortable stance, a cute pinkness now raising up her complexion. “I’d intended to discuss that with you, but I’d gotten a bit… lost in thought.”

Her tempo of mind returns to pace. She seats herself on a rolling chair and brings it near with a single push. On the path towards me she’d swiped her clipboard from off the counter and begins to flip through its pages.

“Your blood. It has proper levels for all nutrients, the white blood cell count is where it should be, your wounds have mended finely and there are no signs of permanent damage to any internal organs. Most importantly; your brain is in wonderful condition. From a visual it has no discernible marks from trauma.”

“From all that I’ve understood what I’d stated has been confirmed. I’m in fine condition and it’d be natural if I were to continue my duties.”

“You’re quite eager, aren’t you? Seeing how passionate our Celestial Knight is is a treat, but there’s more to discuss than your discharge from this hospital.”

I rest my arms onto my knees and show her that I’m all ears.

“It is true that from all we’ve observed you seem to be good to get back home. But this isn’t enough to satisfy my concerns.” Her piercing blue eyes are firmly set on mine, they affirm all of the intent of her words. “If I were able to, I would keep you here for a few more nights, but given the news that I’ve received, it seems that would be an issue for the kingdom.”

Sighing with fingers knitted together above her paperwork, she glances about my body and then back to my eyes.

“Your services are of the utmost importance given the current condition of Pride so I will be signing your discharge. But…” she speaks firmly, leaving no room for backtalk, “…I will continue my evaluation for a given period of time with daily checks to make for absolute certain you are in fact back to health. What you’d experienced shouldn’t at all be taken lightly, especially given your importance to the kingdom.

“Preparations have already been made for my admittance into the manor you are currently residing in. It had been decided for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, the convenience of communication and the evaluation you will be subject to in the coming time.”

“You’re going to be living in Celestial Manor? That would solve an issue of time. It’d steal time away to go the distance daily if it were necessary. I’m grateful you’re willing to go that far.”

“It won’t be just a daily examination if I can have a say in it. I would desire to monitor you throughout the day if I could, but I’ve been asked by the kingdom to relent. Instead I will be keeping it to twice a day. It is the least I can do for you and it’s my honor to be of your assistance. B-Besides…”

Her skin begins to flush and she gently lips the clipboard to her lips, tapping it close to her nose and retraining her gaze towards the x-rays.

“I’d mentioned that it was not limited to my services as a doctor. But that’s a bridge to cross at a later point in time.”

Coming back down, she lowers the clipboard.

“Point of discussion being that I have been assigned as your personal care specialist during your tenure as the Celestial Knight. It was decided long ago, but personal and professional matters were at hand keeping me from formally being introduced to you at an earlier time. My apologies that it is so late coming.”

“I believe I’d heard that I’d be meeting a physician who would be my help. I’m grateful to have finally met you though I wish it could have been on less grave circumstances.”

“It’s simply a part of the job. I’d studied for all of my years to be of service to those who need a hand with their health. It’s my joy to serve you, Celestial Knight Khiron.”

She outstretches her hand and I take it in my own to affirm our new bond with a simple shake. All the while there’s a sweet smile that brings a glow to the angelic features of her countenance with an incontestable serenity.

✩ ✩ ✩

“Lunch time! Lunch time! It’s time for your protein!”

I’m given the most unorthodox reunion with one spunky brunette. In each each hand extends long wrapped packages that could nearly need a flagger to guarantee their clearance. The energy she gives off is enough to make me feel a bit more light on my feet with a single word from her lips.

I’d already had my belongings collected and was readying to be on the go when she’d wandered into my room.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, Mercy.” I give into a light chuckling. “I’d only had something light earlier so I could use something more hearty to eat.”

“I’d expected about as much so I’d gotten a few of these bad boys from my work.”

“Work? Since when have you been working? It’s only been 3 days.”

“Truth be told, I’d been looking for a job for a few days before all of the shenanigans stormed on in. I’d felt a bit too complacent and needed a little something to shake it up. I’d thought some work on the side for a smidgen of time would be fun enough.”

“What about your exercise and that old job you’d had?”

“Like hell I’d ever return to that mess. It got boring real quick. The grind never ends. And besides, this little gig will likely only roll on for a month before I get on my way out. Here’s a specialty we’re selling. Try it out.”

She lobs one of her carries and I catch it. Beneath the wrapping is a breaded sandwich loaded with toppings and a well cooked meat peeking out from beneath.

“It’s our cherry wood smoked chicken long bread sandwich! Available for a limited time only!”

“Can’t fault you for your salesmanship, but why is it so… huge? It’s almost as long as my arm.”

“Thought you’d be hungry after being laid out like that. You need a good intake if you’re going to be the backbone of this island so you’d best get to eating.”

Though unspoken, I feel deeply touched by her gesture. Mercy is an odd duck, that’s for sure. An odd duck among odd ducks. Being less the openly sentimental type, I can tell that this is her own way of showing her care.

I glance up from the sandwich and see her already voraciously consuming a mouthful. Despite her perhaps diminutive stature, she’s already devoured a few sizable chunks. I deem that in return, the best way to say thanks isn’t to get sappy; it’s to follow suit. So I do.

“I’d expected you’d be out quickly. Given how much you’d-”

Plutia strides in and stops short as she sees the two of us standing around eating ludicrously sized sandwiches.

✩ ✩ ✩

“It’s not all that bad. If it’s limited then it’s going to be a shame when they stop selling it.” Plutia remarks as the three of us wander our way back home with our meals.

She herself was spared chunks of our own thanks to a kindly surgeon who spared a knife for us to divvy them up.

“It’ll stop selling after July so there’s still time. But that’s always how these places get you.” Mercy comments after gulping down her latest bite. “They make something this good and tempt you to keep coming. If I ran the business, I’d be experimenting like nobody could believe.”

“If I were to run a restaurant, I suppose I’d make sure that it’d serve as fine of delicacies as it could.” So responds Plutia.

“Man, that’d be awesome. I’d definitely eat at your place if that was a thing.”

“Hate to interrupt the food chat, but I’d really like to know how the others have been doing lately.” I reluctantly inquire.

“Mopey but not as mopey.” Then Mercy takes another bite.”

“They’ve been handling themselves well. We’ve all missed you, so be prepared when you cross that doorway.”

I nod my head and sink back into my introspection. Though it went unsaid, I could tell that the two were purposefully avoiding mentioning the one that I’d wished to hear about the most.

Despite that today was the day I’d depart from the hospital, Juna hadn’t come by to walk me back home. And so that scar pays me a bitter sting to top off my dour thoughts.

Towards the manor we go.

To Juna.