Chapter 5

By the time we reached the Eastern Virgin, the sun was directly up above the canyons. Zion seemed to spring to life on days such as these. The river rushed past our legs. Fish swam around our ankles. Trees rustled in the light breeze.

It was Babylon reincarnated. But just like Babylon, Zion had an enemy that will come in the night. Bash thy little ones against stones.

Addie kicked water up with her motion. Her clothes were soaked up to her waist.

"Why do you feel it necessary to do that?" I asked with a sigh.

"Do what?"

"Kick up so much water. Your clothes get heavy when they are wet."

"It's a good work out." She smiled.

My brow furrowed in confusion. "You do not need to work out in the slightest."

"That's not what my thighs scream at me when I wear a dress." She grumbled.

I looked down to see plump, healthy thighs. "They look fine."

"Made you look, though." She grinned mischievously. "And besides, I don't like them, so I'll get rid of them."

I laid my hand on her elbow to stop her in her tracks. My face was stern and edged with concern. "You do not need to lose weight. You look fine. Trying to lose weight where there is no weight to lose will be very dangerous."

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her jaw set in a line and her eyes held something I could relate to more than she needs to know. Self-hatred, pain, and anger. She turned back to the river and set off into the canyons.

"You can't run away from your problems, Addie. You need to start with coming to terms with them."

"I'm fine." She grumbled without looking back.

"Addie, wait." I waded through the water to catch up with her.

"I said I'm fine." Her voice trembled.

"Don't just go off on your own when you're clearly upset. It's dangerous." I rested my hand on her shoulder.

"Or what? You're going to lose your precious savior?"

"I know what you are feeling. I know how poisonous it is for your mind."

"Stop. Just stop, Joshua." She shook my hand off. She glared at me with tears streaming down her face.

"Please, let me help you. I want to help. I don't just see you as the one who will fix our problem with the White Legs."

"Then what am I? Some Courier? That's what everyone fucking sees me as. I'm not a person to them." She wrapped her arms around her body protectively.

"Look at me, Addie."

She shook her head. "Joshua, please stop."

In that moment, I did something I hadn't done in years. I embraced her. "Addie, you are a person. A wonderful person. You don't deserve anything that has happened to you."

She wrapped her arms around my waist tightly. She sobbed into my chest loudly and shamelessly. I smoothed her hair down.

"I'm so sorry, Joshua. I'm such a bitch to you." She sniffled.

"It is alright. You were upset."

"It's not alright. I'm always such an asshole."

"You're going through a tough time right now." I held her at arms length and lightly squeezed her forearms. "We should hurry back and get you some rest."

She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Okay," she whispered.

I dropped my hand to the small of her back and led her back to the camp. She stumbled every once in a while and held onto my shirt tightly.

People stopped what they were doing to turn and stare. I was known for not touching people, so this was a rare occasion for them. Addie pushed closer to me.

"Why are they all looking at us like that?" She whispered.

"They have never seen me willingly touch someone. We must be a sight."

She gazed up at me but I kept my eyes forward. We made our way through the caves. People stopped in their tracks to watch us closely with confusion.

"They're making me really uncomfortable," she mumbled.

I cleared my throat. "And God said, whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears."

The tribals quickly shifted their gaze and went back to their business.

"What does that mean?"

I chuckled. "It means 'mind your own business.'"

"Oh."

We passed through the winding caverns in relative peace. My chamber was dark and cool. I relighted the torches and riffled through boxes for pelt and blankets.

"Joshua, why are you so sweet on me?" Addie's voice was muffled by the blanket she pulled over her face.

"I was unaware I was treating you differently."

"Oh, well. I just assumed since you said you've never touched anyone else." She pulled the blanket over her face.

"It didn't cross my mind. You were upset and I felt it was my responsibility to take care of you."

"Oh. Okay."

"That doesn't mean I do not care about you, Addie. I don't want you to believe that for a fraction of a second."

She poked up from the blanket slightly. They corners of her eyes crinkled from a hidden smile. "I care about you too, Joshua."

An old feeling I thought was lost to me bloomed in my chest. It was like a tree was planted in my stomach and it grew throughout my body. It was getting increasingly harder to breathe. "I... I've forgotten what it felt like."

"What what feels like?"

"Caring and being cared for. It's nice."

"It is pretty nice."

I moved towards her with the blankets and laid them over her one by one. "Do you need anything else of me?"

She shook her head. "Just stay with me."

"If that is what you wish." I sat down with my back against the wall by her and crossed my legs. After several minutes, her breathing slowed. I opened my eyes. She was asleep. I closed my eyes again and the world went back.

For the first time in I can't even remember how long, my rest was pleasant. No fires. No pain. No fear. Before I opened my eyes, I felt a warmth on my legs. I opened my eyes slightly to find Addie's head resting on my lap. Her hair was a mess, entirely covering my legs in red locks. I pushed her hair out of her eyes gently. Her lips were parted slightly and her cheeks were a light tint of pink.

She was an angel sent from heaven.

She was Addie.