dolorem et sanitatem— v & leon

[nate]

There was a quietness in the air, an unbroken serenity. Trees swayed in the breeze, leaves dancing before they lay to rest on the ground. Birds sang from the branches, their songs soaring cutting through the stillness in the air. His broken dreams and woeful sorrows were the only things weighing down the ataraxy in the air. The bird's melodies reminded him of his mother's sweet lullabies that used to lull him to sleep. The leaves and branches crackle under his feet, his steps waking up the forest.

Something tugs on his feet, a quick gasp starts to leave his lips before he tumbles down. He continually hits the ground, the vibrations beat against his head. A sharp pain cuts into his skin, a stream of red sailing past his eyes.

His rolling body comes to a stop, blood soaking his pants at the knee. With a quivering hand and a shaky breath he reluctantly looks down toward his leg. A wooden stick peeking out of his leg, blood stained on the tip of it. He tries to stand, pain flaring throughout his body. Staggering, he bounds out of the woods, passing trees and blood slowly oozing out of his leg. Heat floods through him, a burning sensation that wraps him in a unsolicited embrace. His breath starts to hitch, a heartbeat lagging behind.

The woods begin to fade, a vague, obscure view. He grasped onto the trees as he passed, the bark digging into his clammy palms. His leg throbbed like it had its own heartbeat. The trees seemed like they went on forever, but a shout shook him out of his head. His Aunt was carrying a basket, one hand clamped over her mouth.

"Oh my Ripred, Leon! What the actual fuck happened?" his Aunt said rather raucously. She shot toward him, hands reaching for his shoulders. "I know the apothecary owner, we'll get you over there, just hold on."

Sweat poured in front of his eyes, his head pounding and leg throbbing. The apothecary wasn't far, but for Leon everything was going slow, everything felt like forever. He didn't want to fail, not another time. He hasn't fulfilled his promise, so he pushes through the agony.

The apothecary oddly smelled like death and flowers. His Aunt held him up as they rushed in through the door, she yelled out that she needs help. His pant leg was soaked, blood sticking to his skin. "Please just get this stick out of leg."