"Y..you want me to work with you?" I was in a state of shock. I had just woken up from being sick. I didn't know this man, though I knew that I could trust him. I didn't really even know what he did around the village.
"Yes, I do. I think you would make a great healer."
What he was saying didn't make any sense to me at first. But the more that I thought about it, the more that I knew he was right. I would love to be a healer. If I was a healer, I could take care of Catherine if she ever got sick, and Arthur too. Not to mention, Mom and Dad. I didn't want anyone in my family to be sick like I was just recently, or how I was in my previous life. I didn't want anyone to suffer. There were a few things that I needed to ask him first, though.
"Mr. Briar." I called him that out of habit. He was older than me and it was a sign of respect after all. Still, he immediately corrected me.
"Just Briar, please." He smiled softly.
"Briar, Sir, why do you think that I will make a good healer?" I had to know that, above anything else. I needed to know what it was that he saw in me that told him I would be a good healer.
"I can sense that you're a kind person, Addie, even if you seem to have a complicated aura. That alone is the first step, being kind. However, aside from that, the real reason that I think you will do well in this line of work, are those."
I looked to where he was pointing and saw that he was indicating the marks that were on my wrists.
"These?" I was shocked, beyond shocked really. "D..d..do you know what these marks are? Can you tell me about them?"
"I do, and I can. If you become my apprentice, that is." He nodded at me as if he was confirming that he did indeed know what the marks were.
"O..OK." I smiled. I didn't mind being a healer and I wanted to know about these marks of mine more than anything else.
"Wonderful. I think we should ask your parents to make sure that they do not oppose. Considering that they agree to it, I think you can start coming for your training right away, we can have your lessons a few days each week." He looked excited. It was like he was happy to be getting a new apprentice. I wondered then if he might be lonely with no one to talk to at home. That might be one of the reasons he wanted an apprentice so badly.
He seemed like a good guy, and Dad trusts him, so I figured that I could trust him as well. We still had to see what my parents said about it, though. If they didn't think that I should do it, then I will tell Mr. Briar no. It's as simple as that.
"Addie! Mr. Briar! Mom says it's time for lunch." Catherine was running up the stairs toward my room. "Do you need my help to walk, Addie?" She was looking at me as if she was worried about me. She wanted to help me. She wanted to do things for me if I was unable to do it for myself. That was so different to what I had in my last life. My little sister was so upset and angry about her life of having to help me all the time. I wonder if Catherine would have been like Charlie if I had been sickly and weak here as well?
"I'm fine, Catherine." I assured her as I pushed my covers away. "I am sure that I can walk by myself."
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and went to stand up immediately. I must have done it too fast though, because I almost instantly started to fall to the floor. It was like my knees weren't going to support me at all.
"Addie?" Catherine gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth.
"Woah! Be careful there." Mr. Briar caught me and steadied me in his arms.
"I..I don't know what happened. I feel fine, it's just my legs giving out on me."
"You've been in bed for a few days without walking and you're just getting over being sick. You're just a little weakened, that's all. A little exercise and some healthy food should take care of that for you just fine."
"Really?" Mr. Briar didn't look all that worried about my having nearly fallen. Well, to be precise, he had looked worried when he caught me, but now he looked calm because I didn't fall and get hurt. He really was a nice guy, wasn't he?
"Yes, really." Mr. Briar nodded at me and helped me to stand a little better than I had been. "Do you still need me to help you stand up? I can help you down the stairs if you need me to."
"I..I think I will be fine." I tried to pull away from him, but my legs were still a little wobbly.
"Let me help you, at least a little." Mr. Briar wrapped his arm around my shoulders to help me steady. "Come on, let's go."
Slowly and steadily Mr. Briar helped me out of my room and down to the table. By the time that we actually made it to the table I was finally starting to get some strength back in my body. He didn't let me go though, for fear that I wouldn't be strong enough on my own
"Here you are, Addie."
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Mom asked when I took my seat.
"She was just a little weak, that is all. She needs to get some exercise and some healthy food in her. She will be fine." Mr. Briar answered for me.
"That's good." Dad sighed as he took his seat. "I have been so worried about you, Addie."
"Yeah, Addie, we were so worried about you while you were sick." Arthur added.
"I know that my Addison is strong and that she will bounce back soon." Mom smiled at me as she started to set plates onto the table. "Now, since she needs to eat something, I say we have lunch. Mr. Briar, thank you so much for joining us."
"Thank you for having me, Mrs. Mercer." Mr. Briar smiled and sat next to me at the table. I wondered what he was going to say to my parents about the apprenticeship? I wonder what my parents were going to say about it in return?