Zion's Children - pt. 28

Miri was caught in a dream.

Or was it a nightmare?

Nope, she was a wake. All of this was real.

Sighing, she rolled over in her bed, and saw that it was daylight. And had been day for some time. She ought to bolt from bed, throw on some clothes and race out the door. But she was hesitating, partly out of fear of facing Byrin...and partly because she was tired. Deep inside, where her heart was.

She took a deep breathe, and delighted in the scent of warm cinnamon. It made her think of the cinnamon bread that her grandmother used to make years ago. Grandmother had always made it when she knew that Miri was feeling sad about something, or just didn't feel good. Grandmother...had taken that recipe to the grave with her. Miri had always meant to learn how to make it, but she had never found the time. She'd always had something more "important" to do.

With a heavy heart, she rose from her bed and readied herself for the day.

Miri stopped in her tracks as she came into the kitchen. There on the table, in the spot that Grandfather always set her plate of food for either breakfast or supper, sat a great plate of several rolled cinnamon breads. They were fresh, too, because the white frosting was still dripping from the edged of the buns.

Levi appeared from the pantry, a generous dusting of white powder still on the front of his shirt. "Miri...I was just coming up to check on you."

"Grandpa..."

"What? Didn't know I could cook?" Though Lev looked grim, he was a little amused at the moment.

"No, I just...you know Grandmother's recipe?"

"I know several of her recipes. Sit already, dig in!"

She was hungry...for the first time in days. Miri sat in the wooden chair, only slgihtly aware as her grandfather set a full mug of milk at her elbow. She bit into the warm cinnamon bread...and marveled at how close her grandfather had been at replicating the recipe. "Oh Grandpa..."

"I've talked to Dr. Hamilton a couple times today. He said for you to stay home today and take the day off. He's concerned about how tired you were."

Miri wanted to argue, but didn't have the heart. "How long was I asleep?"

"A long time. It's almost noon."

"Noon?!"

"Yes."

Miri sighed, but said no more. She finished her bun, and started on a second one. She had all afternoon to do...nothing. She didn't want to stay away from the hospital, but she knew she needed a break. What could one afternoon off hurt? But what would she do?