Lydia woke up slowly. A ray of sunlight filtered between a pair of closed curtains to trail across her face. She blinked and turned her face toward the soft light. It was warm against her skin. As she blinked to accommodate her eyes to the gentle ray, her eyes landed on a figure leaning against the bed she lay in, felt warm fingers clasping her hand, and warm breath brush across her finger tips. With much of the strength she had she grasped the hand in her own and could feel a tremble run through her arm as she willed her muscles to do this small thing. The figure moved restlessly for a moment before she felt the hand holding her own tighten firmly and comfortingly around her trembling fingers.
Lydia responded by strengthening her grip a moment and then releasing as the strength of her will gave way to the weakness of her body.
As she did so, the figure stilled and she could see the muscles in the arms and shoulders tense for a moment before the figure sprang upright and Lydia could see her better.
"Lizzie," she croaked. Her throat felt raw and it was painful to speak. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to swallow but could not seem to push the pain back down.
Lydia felt the weight of her sister as she came nearer, perched on the bed, grasping Lydia's hand further into a tight embrace. Lydia felt Lizzie place a lingering kiss on the back of her hand and heard a small sob that could not be smothered. Lydia opened her eyes and saw Lizzie's tired face bowed over her hand as if in prayer.
"Lizzie," she tried again. It came as a whisper and her sister kissed her hand one last time before raising tearful, red rimmed eyes to look upon her sister.
"Oh, Lydia," Lizzie replied, providing a tired and watery smile. "You have returned."
Lydia could feel the joy from her sister and she tried to smile in return. Still holding fast to her hand, Lizzie ran a gentle hand over Lydia's brow and she sighed as if a great weight had been lifted.
"Your fever has passed," she said softly as she carefully brushed a few loose strands from Lydia's brow. She leaned forward and pressed a comforting kiss on Lydia's brow. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
Lydia tried to put words to answer her sister, but felt as if she pushed shards of glass through her throat.
"Hold a moment," Lizzie said softly before gently placed her hand back beside her on the covers and turned away. Lydia's eyes followed her sister as she turned a brought a glass back to her. She again sat on the edge of the bed and carefully placed a hand behind Lydia's head. Lizzie brought the glass to her lips and Lydia drank, feeling the shards of glass dissolve as the soothing liquid quenched her thirst.
Lizzie gently lowered her back down and set the glass to the side as she fussed over the pillow and pulled the heavy comforter more fully under Lydia's chin. Lizzie ran her hand once more over Lydia's cool brow, as if to reassure herself nothing had changed during the moment she had turned away.
Lydia felt at peace as her sister's eyes once more found her own.
"How are you feeling, Lydia?" she repeated.
Slowly, Lydia raised her hand to her sister and felt Lizzie's firm embrace again.
"I am well," she whispered in reply. Her eyes felt heavy as she tried to maintain her grip in her sister's hand. "George, Henry?"
The hand about her own tightened a moment. "They are well Lydia, and waiting for their mother."
"I am glad," Lydia felt the heavy weight of fatigue settle over her eyes, despite her will to remain awake.
Lizzie once again placed her hand gently on the bed.
"Sleep, Lydia. The sooner you recover, the sooner you may see them. I will be here when next you wake."
Lydia tried once more to fight the weight dragging her to oblivion but felt the gentle weight remain by her side and soon stopped fighting as fatigue's grip lethargically returned her to unconsciousness.
Well, I haven't updated in a while. :( But here I am, prodigal son returned. I just finished college, and like many others, my last year was intense. I took the last couple of weeks to recoup, but now I want to finish Lydia's story. I hope you will join in with me again. Thank you for your patience. -ff
