21% Delirium
"Why are you telling me all this?" Meru asked after they'd sat in a long silence.
Zale didn't answer her, and Meru refused to ask again. Words escaped Zale as the crushing fear of losing Meru weighed on his shoulders. Finally, he took a deep breath and said while looking into his half drained coffee, "Because I trust you. I need to tell someone...and I want you by my side."
Zale looked up, his eyes pleading with hers. Meru started, "Zale, my love, please. We talked about this. Death is part of life. You can't-"
"I'm serious" he burst out, green eyes burning with passion, "I read about the magic core needed to become a sorcerer and how the ultimate goal is immortality. I can escape death. We both can. We don't have to be afraid."
He was nearly standing, and Meru gently put her hand on his. "Zale, you're the only one that's afraid. Death is natural. It comes for everyone. How many times…"
She sighed.
"It's okay, Zale. You aren't alone. We will live our best lives. Together."
Zale pulled his hand away slowly, rubbing his thin face with a frustrated sigh. "Meru, please. I need you to believe me. It's...I just...I really...UGH!"
He flung his arms up then rested his head in his hand and leaned back in his chair, pulling away from Meru, who now wore a scowl. "Zale, calm down. Don't make a scene. You're delirious from the coma. You've been cooped up in the hospital for weeks. You just need time to get back into things. We can talk about things later," she said, collecting her bag.
Zale stopped her suddenly, grabbing her wrist lightly to keep her with him. His face was pale and scared. "Please, hear me out. You've always said you trust me! Yes, I'm desperate, maybe, but I'm not lying to you," he insisted.
This time, Meru snatched her hand away. "Don't grab me like that," she snapped.
Zale pulled back but was insistent. Meru flopped back into her seat, rolling her eyes with a huff. She couldn't abandon him, but neither was she happy with his behavior. "All right, Zale. If I say I trust you, then what? Are you just going to waste your life worrying about death?"
"No, it's…"
Zale searched his mind for something, a light in the abyss. He must have sounded crazy. He felt crazy. His solitary weeks in the hospital were spent sorting out the experience. Even though he was certain of the truth, he had trouble proving it. The books he read were real. The knowledge was real, but he had no proof. He needed evidence, or Meru would never believe him. "I can get results," he suddenly said, turning his frustration into hope.
His brow raised as he smiled. "If I can give you proof, then you'll believe me, right?"
Meru drained her latte. "I don't know what results or proof you've got, but sure. If you can prove it, I'll believe you."
Zale's smile spread ear to ear. His hands relaxed. "Thank you, Meru. I love you so much! I promise this is not another episode or some delirium."
Meru shook her head. "You don't need to promise. I trust you. I'm just worried. I don't see you for a month, and this is the first thing you tell me. I just hope you know what you're doing."
"I do," he declared.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone