by Z.N. Singer
The Gentle Beast's hands, still on her waist, pushed, turning her slowly, reluctantly around, until she was facing him, as she'd been afraid to do. He put his hands on her shoulders, and looked into her eyes with an intensity she'd never seen before. And – instead of being silent – he spoke.
“I am,” he said. “Where I wish to be.”
For a moment, Sarumah just stared, while her eyes filled and her lips trembled. Then she buried her head and hands in his chest, with a sound half gasp and half sob. Huddling like she wanted to merge there. Gentle Beast closed his arms around her.
“That...was the hardest offer of aid I've ever made,” she finally said.
A slight shift in the tightness of his arms answered her. It was enough.
She had no idea how long they stayed there. It didn't really matter. They had all the time in the world, after all.
In the end, a magi never created magic in the first place. She borrowed it – from a world already full to bursting. And all the best kinds of magic take two.
“I guess you don't need me to read to you anymore,” she finally said.
“No,” he agreed, smiling. “Now we can take turns.”
And he removed his arms, took her left arm in his right hand, and walked them side by side to the door, and out of the room. It felt like a metaphor.
It probably was.
***
Z.N. Singer probably owes his career first and foremost to his parents' callous act at the tender age of seven – specifically, they threw away the television. It never returned to the family, and he was forced to find other entertainment. He found books. Because writing makes a satisfying career but an uncertain source of income, he finds time to write in-between coursework at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he studies Interior Design (not decorating – think interior architecture). You can find more examples of his writing, as well as extensive and ever expanding documentation on the world in which his eventual fantasy series will be set, at www.thewordpile.com. Free samples of (fantasy) fiction writing and occasional short stories are expected to become available as well. There's a chatbox and comments are open to all, so no matter what your reason, even just to hang out, be sure to stop by. You can also connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.
