Chapter 11
Seda
When the clock struck five, Seda and Cahir left their office, hand in hand, and slowly made their way home.
Cahir explained that he had to go outside the dome and found her father in a cell.
He tried to free him but had to run when the Rozzers attacked.
It took him days to find a way back in without being caught.
He assured her that no one knew who he was, and no one would come for him.
They ascended the winding stairs to their apartment and entered through the door.
Seda paused and said her prayer, but Cahir walked by her and took a seat on the couch.
Seda looked at him with a puzzled expression, but she didn’t want to push him.
She was relieved he was home and safe. He’d clearly been through a tough time and looked exhausted.
She sat on the couch next to him, her ear and palm against his chest, listening to the gentle beat of his heart, the soothing sound calming her. They sat together in silence as he gently ran his fingers through her hair.
She lifted herself from his chest and said, “I saw something today.” She nervously chewed on her fingernail.
He gently pulled her hand away from her lips, placing it on her thigh with his warm hand still on top of hers. There was a softness in his eyes when he said, “Tell me.”
She fidgeted. “Well, I saw a bird. I think it was the same bird that scratched me and broke into the house. In fact, I think it might have been the same bird that I yelled at on our walk home after the Wyrd. I shouldn’t have yelled at it. You were probably right that it could understand me.”
Cahir half smiled, a singular dimple accenting his cheek, and encouraged, “Go on…”
“Well, I followed it into this grove of trees way out past the Gardvord. It led me to this hidden wall that was covered in vines.”
She picked up her other hand this time to bite her nails and then set it down herself and took a deep breath. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
“Never.”
She hesitated and then forced out, “I touched the vines and they moved on their own. Then I saw a door with a hole in it, so I peeked through and saw… and saw…”
Seda paused what she was saying and winced. Thinking back, how could she really know if what she saw was real? Benny was right. She hadn’t eaten, and maybe her mind was playing tricks on her because of the stress.
Maybe she never even saw the bird.
“It’s okay, Sed. Tell me what you saw.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired and hungry, and maybe I didn’t even see anything.”
“I would like to know.”
She lingered for a long moment, discomfort creeping as her own memory resurfaced.
“Well…” She took another deep breath and continued, “I looked through the hole in the door, and I saw this giant forest with this massive stump, and when Benny found me, the whole thing disappeared.”
He looked at her intently, his face showing no pretenses. His eyes flicked between hers, then he paused briefly before saying, “I believe you. There’s a lot beyond the dome, and magic still exists.”
Magic?
“How do you know that?”
Cahir looked away from her and stared at the photo of them on the side table.
“Because I have trust that there’s beauty beyond this place that confines and hurts its people.
I have faith and hope that one day things will change for the positive.
I know magic exists because this dome exists.
It’s something ancient, something right, etched into the bones of this world, and I do not believe that we have learned everything there is to know yet. ”
Seda leaned back on the couch and pulled her legs to her chest.
“Thank you for believing me.” She smiled at him and gave him a playful nudge. “That was beautiful, by the way.”
Cahir smiled back at her and then stood up. “Well, I’m hungry after all of this. Would you like to eat with me?”
Seda nodded as her stomach growled in response. She got up from the couch, and they headed to the small kitchen to quickly prepare a meal with the ingredients they had on hand.
After they finished dinner and cleaned up, each of them took a shower. Seda grabbed his clothes for him, and they both made their way into the bedroom when they finished.
Cahir paused at the doorway and saw his crumpled bed with Seda’s bed on the opposite side in pristine condition.
“Was someone else here?” he asked, a look on his face that Seda couldn’t place.
Seda blushed and fiddled with her fingernails. “No, I slept there while you were gone.” She felt her nerves tighten, fearing he might be upset with her for invading his personal space.
With a sigh, Cahir rubbed his neck and stepped into the room. He settled onto the bed and patted the space beside him, inviting her to sit. She gladly complied.
“Will you lie with me tonight? I’ll give you all my pillows if you’d like,” he asked her.
A fragile laugh slipped past her lips. “I can get my own pillows, and yes, I’d love to sleep here too, if that’s alright? Although it’ll be pretty cramped. This bed is barely big enough for you as it is.”
She didn’t want to leave his side, preferring to stay wrapped in his comfort and his scent for as long as possible.
“I will survive.”
She grabbed her pillows, tossed them onto the bed, and snuggled under the blankets against the wall.
Cahir’s weight caused the bed to shift as he climbed in, making Seda lean into him, and she caught herself with her hands on his firm chest. She quickly apologized and turned back around.
He wrapped his arms around her and spooned her close.
Without saying a word, they shared each other’s space, and both drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Seda woke up and gazed at the wall as the soft, orange light of the sunrise streamed through the window.
She felt safe and secure as Cahir’s arms wrapped tightly around her and snuggled in closer, pressing her body against his.
She relished the moment as if a comforting blanket was enveloping her soul.
She felt the whisper of his breath in her hair, and he tenderly squeezed her hip. Cahir pressed against her backside, and she felt his firmness press into her.
Her body immediately tensed, and her heart started to race.
“I’m sorry.” He quickly pulled away from her.
“I-It’s okay,” she replied, her voice catching.
Memories of that day flooded her, her eyes stinging as she pressed her fist over her mouth, stifling a cry. It had taken a long time, but when she finally confided in Cahir about that day, she felt relieved when he believed her.
For years, she struggled with her own memories. Her family knew something had happened when she returned home with torn clothes and blood that day, but she never explained in detail, never telling anyone who they were.
She only briefly explained their appearance to Cahir, but never shared their names.
She felt disgusted and unclean, as if she had done something wrong.
Bile burned in her throat as she thought back on it, and she let the tears fall.
“I would never hurt you, Seda.”
He had always treated her with respect and kindness, showing no signs of romantic interest. After learning about what happened to her, he took extra care to slow things down even further in their friendship. They only started hugging and holding hands within the last couple of years.
She had no clue if Cahir ever felt that way about anyone. He attracted the attention of many women, but he always kept his distance. The fact that his body reacted that way to her confused her. It could just be a physical thing that happens to some guys in the morning.
She rolled over and stared at him, face to face, inches apart. She pulled the blanket over her mouth and said, “I know you wouldn’t, Cahir.”
He gently wiped away a tear that was sliding down her face, running along the ridge of her nose. “When you’re ready to talk about it more, I’m here. I would like to know who those assholes are who hurt you.”
She nodded and said into the blanket, “Someday.”
She looked away from him, unable to meet his eyes.
“Why do you have that over your mouth?” he asked.
“Because I need to brush my teeth, and so do you.” She smirked, thankful for the change of subject. She took a section of blanket and placed it over his mouth. He grabbed onto it and held it in place.
“What’s our plan today? Isn’t today a day off?” his muffled voice asked into the blanket while staring at her.
“We should catch up with Benny. I promised him and Mom I would let them know when you returned, and I totally forgot yesterday.”
“That sounds like a plan,” he said.
“And…” she began, but hesitated. She chewed her lip before asking, “If you’re okay with it, can we go to the medical wing, please?”
He stared at her for a long moment and then slowly nodded his head and whispered, “Yeah, we can do that.”
The Prayer Song rang out over the distance.
Seda climbed out of bed, and Cahir shifted his body away from her, allowing her to pass. “I’m going to go brush my teeth,” she said to him as she left the room.
She left Cahir in the room while he sat on the edge of the bed, his hair a rumpled mess, and a pillow covering his lap.