There was another scowl. *I'm almost never ill* the Sewer King thought. His body trembled for a few minutes. *I don't remember viewing sick children. I don't. I don't.*
The Sewer King's children were by him as he revealed lessons or if he enjoyed his food. They mostly remained far from him. Stealing pretties above the sewer. Fixing clothes in the sewer. Working in the sewer. Suffering in the sewer. Exhausted children. Ones recalling the Sewer King disciplining them if they caused him distress.
*My new wish? A wish to cease sneezing this instant.* After sneezing another time, the Sewer King continued to scowl. He winced while his body ached. His body slumped. *The flu?*
Another wish. *I wish to rest this instant.* A sudden smile materialized. *Rest. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'll rest. I will. I will* he thought.
The Sewer King began to look ahead another time. *Perhaps the children will return with lots and lots of pretties after I open my eyes later.* The happy Sewer King wandered and found himself in a chamber. His eyes settled on two alligators. ''My pretty pets,'' he said to them. One alligator wagged its tail while the other alligator slumbered.
The Sewer King winced again as soon as he scratched the happy alligator's snout. He saw worry in its eyes. One corner of the Sewer King's mouth went up. ''I'm fine,'' he said to the alligator.
After turning to the exhausted pet, the Sewer King scowled another time. He approached it at a snail's pace. The Sewer King collapsed near it. His eyes widened for a second. He began to wince again the minute one side of his body contacted the floor. Another smile. ''I'm fine,'' he informed his pet.
Concern filled the Sewer King's eyes as soon as the alligator writhed. *A wish for you to never suffer another time* he thought.
His fingers wrapped around the alligator's claws. *I'll suffer with you.*
The Sewer King forgot about pretties and his children. His smile came back. The Sewer King focused on the alligator. *Perhaps we'll be with one another in spirit. Yes. Yes. We will. We will.*
The Sewer King faced the other alligator. His happy expression remained before he nodded. ''I never forgot about you, my pet,'' he said. The Sewer King turned to the sick alligator and started to rest his head on its side. ''I wish to be with you in spirit.'' He began to shut his eyes. Many minutes later, he opened them.
The Sewer King didn't ache any longer. Confused, he blinked twice. *The flu vanished?* Perhaps the alligator wasn't sick any longer.
After lifting his head, the Sewer King saw the still form of the alligator. *Hm?* He touched one side of the alligator's face. The Sewer King gasped as his eyes widened at the same time. ''I wished to be with you in spirit. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.''
Eyes settled on the rest of the chamber. The other alligator wasn't present any longer.
Tears appeared in the Sewer King's eyes as soon as he faced the alligator again. A few ran down his face. The Sewer King continued to hold the alligator's claws. He remembered one wish. The Sewer King began to sob with extra tears. *A wish for you to never suffer another time.*
THE END