Waiting was beginning to monopolize my time.
Kay and Xavier both insisted on walking me from one place to another as often as possible. Most days Kay walked me home. Xavier tried his best to shepherd me from one class to another, the ones that weren't connected to the evil cave.
There was a seat in the lounge-- plastic, uncomfortable and cracked along the bolt holding the arm in place --that'd become mine. I'd settle into it the moment I was done with labwork or classes. Sometimes I swore I could still feel traces of my own warmth from the last time I used it.
I pulled my knees up to my chest and rested my chin on them. The sunny mural nearest to me depicted a swirling sky of blues and golds. A field of grain billowing in an unseen breeze and a tree atop a hill tied. A tire swing hung from the tree. I stared through the tire, as if I'd be able to see into the world the artist created.
A world of sunny days and happy childhood memories.
