Chapter 9: Depression
For many weeks after Sarah left the dragons, she worked and worked hard. She worked to forget, she worked to not feel.
But, there were those chores that only occupied the hands and not the mind.
When she washed clothes, it was a job for the hands. So, by the time she was done, she was almost paralyzed with grief. Her eyes would tear, and she would start to shake. When she got into the house, she almost was bed ridden for the rest of the day.
Her sister had noticed this and was concerned. One night Areala confronted her.
"This has gotten way out of line Sarah," she said, a frown forming on her face.
"You have got to get over these dragons!" Areala was the only one that knew about the dragons, her parents thought she got taken by some robbers, nothing had happened to her, but 'finally' she escaped. "You've been home a month now, and I still hear you cry at night, I still see your tears. This has got to stop."
"You don't understand," was all Sarah replied.
"Oh, no. I think I do. You finally found a place where you belonged, and it's SO horrible to be home!" she exclaimed, tears coming to her eyes.
"Oh, Areala," Sarah rapped her arms around her sister, "I missed you so much when I was gone. I missed talking to you, I missed how you smiled. I MISSED you. I even missed Kyle and Jonathan." Smiling she continued, "NO ONE could replace you Areala."
They hugged and cried. After hugging for a while, Areala broke off and looked her sister in the eyes.
"Why do you miss them so much?"
Sarah looked at her sister; Sarah's eyes had a deep hurt look inside of them.
"Because, they loved me, more than anyone but you could say," Sarah paused, "And, because I fell in love."
Her sister was shocked when she told Areala about everything.
"How could you love a Dragon?"
"Because, he loved me, even when I was unsure myself."
*****
For all the weeks after, her mother complained.
"You need to find a Sutter, girls! You need to jump back on your feet!"
This annoyed Sarah, because she was only fifteen, and Areala was only seventeen.
Her mother was of those, 'OH GUYS' type of women. She was always talking about the single men in the community. There wasn't a lot of single men her age, there was about three.
One was named Thomas. Thomas was a stuck up boy (and I specify 'boy'). His father was the 'richest' man in the community. So, Thomas thought he was every girl's heart throb.
Another was Rhatis, who was a strange black man, or maybe he was tan? But, he didn't even speak English, so, DEFINETLY not a Sutter.
Finally there was Velx, which was a strange name for a young Christian man, But, who am I to judge? He was a fine man, I suppose. He was pretty ugly and pretty poor too.
So, mother has been ranting, and there's really no one to marry! And, Areala was planning to leave to the city, why have her settle down?
*****
The last week, Sarah had been trying to Xelis. But, every time she came to her dream place, she found herself there alone.
And every time she would cry. She would sit at the base of the tree and bawl. Her sorrow would fall finally.
Xelis, no longer cared for her. No man in town ever looked at her, she didn't even care now. Her father was long dead, gone. Her mother only wanted her there so she could kick Sarah out herself. Her sister was leaving for the city in about a week.
She felt so alone.
*****
"I'm leaving tomorrow Sarah, you should come with me, and you will be so lonely here." That was true, since her Love didn't speak to her, and she wouldn't let herself go into the woods, because it reminded her of him. But, she couldn't leave; she had to hold onto the hope that Xelis would want her again.
"No, I can't," she whispered. She hugged Areala, one single tear falling down her cheek, "I can't."
"I understand." Areala smiled at her younger sister. "I will miss you terribly Sarah." Kissing her cheek, Areala left to go pack her things.
Could things get any worse?
