Dream slept for a week and five days. Strange things happened while he slept.
On the third day, small branches began to encase him. On the fifth he was fully covered like a butterfly larvae in a cocoon.
On the seventh day, the cocoon sprang flowers. My room was soon covered in vibrant petals.
On the nineth day, the flowers withered and the cocoon wilted.
On the tenth day eleventh day, the cocoon began to fall apart and burst into tiny dust particles.
And on the twelfth day my woodland elf woke. His body free of the bruises and marks he came home with. He looked the same but much prettier, his ears curling up a bit and his eyes more green and less filtered.
"E-...wa..ter"
His voice was hoarse,I quickly poured him a cup, patting his back as he drank.
"I thought you would never wake up"
He chuckled and nudged me before pulling me into a side hug
"It was necessary"
His grip on me tightened, I reciprocated and hugged him tighter. I would never leave him alone again.
"I'll go prepare something you can eat, stay here"
I rushed to the kitchen, sent a text to Aunt Dara about Dream's waking, I chopped some vegetables and made a quick work of salad. Small and easy on his stomach. My phone buzzed as I made my way to my room.
Dream was on his feet, stark naked. Well he had been naked since the cocoon burst, I covered him with a blanket, too embarrassed to dress him up.
Just like me, Dream had stripes over his body but his lined his waist and lower back. The mark shimmered as he took small steps.
"Here, say 'aaa'"
I sat him down and held up the spoon to his mouth
"What? No I can feed myself"
He reached out for the plate but I swatted his hand away
"Let me feed you"
I put up the spoon again and he sighed with defeat and opened his mouth.
We spent the afternoon huddled in bed. I was scared to leave him alone, afraid that he might disappear again and this time...never come back.
The sound of my grumbling stomach woke me, Dream was still fast asleep beside me. I slipped out of bed to make us something to eat, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. A message from Aunt Dara, three missed calls and two messages from Mr Iun and several calls from a private number.
I replied to Aunt Dara's message and placed a call through Mr Iun.
It connected on the second dial
"Are you alright?" He sounded tired
"Good evening Mr Iun"
"...good evening"
"You sound tired"
"I do?"
I heard shuffling and grunts
"Yeah..."
"Hmm, I guess I am tired"
"I'll leave you to rest"
"Wait!"
I placed my phone back on the counter, putting him on speaker
"Yes?"
I got work and started cooking
"Will you be free this weekend?" I paused
"I don't think I would"
"Why is that?" He sounded sad
"My friend had a little...accident so I'm staying with him til he recovers"
"He?"
"Yeah"
"Hm"
"I'm cooking right now, I'll text you later Mr Iun"
"Iun"
"What?"
I heard him sigh
"Not Mr Iun...Call me Iun"
"Alright...Good night...Iun"
"Good night Elora"
The call disconnected and I continued cooking.
The front door rattled and Aunt Dara came waddling in with bags in her hands
"You need help with those?"
"No no, do what you're doing"
"Alright"
"Where's Dream?"
"Asleep"
"Good good, he needs the rest"
"He's been sleeping for a week plus now"
"Yes I know...I made my findings while I was at work today. Turns out Dream underwent what woodland elves call 'Spring'"
I turned off the stove and faced her
"What?"
"You see Spring can stand for many things...rebirth, renewal and so many things"
"..."
"...but in Dream's case, he just wanted escape...and a little part of the rebirth thingy"
"Oh my gosh"
"I mean it's understandable, if I experienced such a thing I would do anything to rid my body of the memories and whatever it leaves behind"