prisonerowar

    I opened my eyes, it was grey dark, like dusk or dawn, I wasn't sure which. Every inch of my body hurt and I tried to get up. I found that I couldn't move. This was bad, very bad. I opened my mouth, wincing at the pain, I tried to call out. Tried, and failed. I had no voice. Now my mind exploded with fear. My voice was an extention of my very soul. With out it I was a broken man. I pushed against the heavy burdon of excrutiating pain that lay over my body. Then everything went black.
     I cracked my eyes open once more. The glare of a bright day streaked across the room to stab at my pained eyes. Once again I tried to get up. Nope. Not gonna happen. I swallowed thickly, the pain gripping my throat like a tight fist. I breathed out the slight semblence of a word. It went unheeded if anyone was there to hear it. Then again, it may have just been my own wishful thinking that it was a sound more then a breath. I drifted back to the void.
     I heard something, a drip, drip, drip. It sounded familiar and it pulled me back to a wakeful state for a moment. Rain. I registered it as rain. I gave in to the heaviness again and nodded off.
     I felt something... hands... yes, it was hands. Hands on my body. Warm and small... gentle in caress. I tried to speak my brow creased in concentration for the major effort of that act.
   "Where...?"
   "Shhh.... Don't try to speak. You're very sick and you shouldn't strain your voice. You're safe, that's all that matters now."
     The voice of an angel... it had to be. I slipped back under the veil of sleep, all too soon.
     Soft glow of light tugged at my face, begging me to wake. I stirred, if only in spirit for my body still felt broken and disconnected. Shoving my eyes open I blinked. It looked like early morning and everything was lit in a tender wash of golden light. The ceiling, the top of the wall and the edge of the window that I could see... but that was as far as my line of vision allowed. I still couldn't see the room I lay on my back in. I took a heavy breath, the air slicing through my lungs. I cringed at the pain that seeped through me but I tried once more to speak. I had to know, I was going to go insane if I didn't find out.
    "How...?"
     Almost immediately a pair of small soft hands were laid on my bare skin. They felt cool against my seered flesh. Gentle strokes smoothed back my hair from my forehead as the other hand fussed at the sheet that lay over me.
   "Shhh now. I told you, you're safe here. You musn't try to over-exert yourself."
     A face came into my view, the face that connected with the gentle hands. She was beautiful! It confirmed my thoughts. I was being tended by an angel. I blinked. Her worry over me lay heavy in her eyes but her expression was one of serenity. I pushed against the pain that plagued me and tried to move, sit up, roll over, anything!
   "No.. no don't try to move. You're too weak, you'll only exhaust youself and it will take you longer to get better. Now lay still and let me look you over." She gently demanded.
     I was so grateful for the small amount of contact that I could root myself in reality again that I obeyed without question. I lay still, watching her as she moved in and out of the fringes of my line of vision. Her touch was tender and her actions sure. She pressed her ear to my lungs, listening quietly as I labored to draw in each breath. Her hair was soft as finest silk as it slid over my chest. She rose and looked into my eyes, not speaking, just looking as if she would find something there. I could only blink. Her hand slid over my shoulder, resting two fingers against my neck. I could see her as she watched her watch tick away the moments. Again she looked up into my eyes, her slight smile was a tremendous comfort. Then her hand lay against my neck in a brief caress, her thumb running over my jaw. It gave me goosebumps. I felt the slight weight on the bed as she sat next to me and leaned over me. She pressed her lips to my forehead. They were soft as rosepetals. Her momentary kiss left me even more breathless. She spoke as the backs of her fingers swept over my heated cheek.
   "You're still very hot, but your lungs sound clearer today. Your heart is very strong, that's good. I think the fever may break soon. You've been slipping in and out for the past two days."
     Two days? I've been here for two days? How did I get here? What? There were so many unanswered questions! It frusterated me to no end that I couldn't ask them. She got up off the bed and looked down at me. Her gaze like a shower of devotion. I swallowed hard for she stirred something inside me. I just didn't know what it was yet.
   "I'm going to heat you some broth. You need to eat. Maybe it will help you fight off that fever."
     And she was gone.The darkness took over once more.
   "Hey... hey do you think you could open your eyes for me?"
     That voice... my angel had returned! I tried very hard to obey her. I wanted to please her, I wanted to see her. I cracked my eyes open. The pale sun was streaming in behind her, haloing her ethereal beauty as I looked up at her. She just had to be an angel. She smiled down at me and my heart leapt. She slid her body onto the bed next to mine, leaning over me to place something on a nearby stand for I heard the soft thud of it being laid aside. She reached behind me, cradling my neck as she adjusted my position some and situated the pillows. She was pressed against me and I wanted to will my hands to reach out and touch her, but they wouldn't listen. I wanted to cry. I've lost my voice and my hands from my will... it was like my soul had escaped from me. Without them, how was I going to express myself? How could I play my music? My music was everything to me. I was now determined to get better, fight this infliction that had me beaten down and essentially a prisioner in my own body. The war had begun. I set to with a new determination.
     She lay me back gingerly, her smile radiant as she smoothed the curls from my sweating forehead. She tugged the sheet up over my bare chest more   then reached for whatever it was that she had lain aside. I could see more of the room now. A rustic table laid with simple crockery was opposite me. I smiled when I saw the vase of dried wildflowers on the sill of the window. It was a tiny smile and it hurt like mad, but it was worth it for the act warmed my heart, and I could feel the return of my soul comming forth. The battle was not lost yet.
   "Here, try to get some of this down. I know it's going to hurt to swallow, but you need something."
     She placed a spoon to my lips, the smell heady as I opened my mouth slightly to accept the nourishment. It slid over my tongue exquisitely. Then burned as it trickled down over my raw throat. I know I had tears in my eyes from the pain. She stroked my cheek, her eyes sympathetic. She spooned more into my mouth, the same scenario played out.Time and time again, she would always stroke my cheek after every meager mouthful as if she were commiserating with me. Her eyes were so lovely, it was a shame that they were so laden with worry. I was exhausted by the time the cup was empty. It was an effort to lick my lips of the salted liquid. She smiled at me, her fingers sifting through my hair. It felt like tiny fairies dancing on my skull.
   "I think you need to rest now. That had to have taken a lot out of you. Don't worry, I'll be close by if you need me." She promised me. Then she lay me back down and the now familiar ceiling was my view once more before that veil of slumber dropped over my eyes again.
     It was dark again when I woke, but the crackle of the fire on the hearth was unmistakable as well as the yellow-orange flickering glow of the room.It was a bit chilly. That was different then all the other times I had woken. I thought that maybe my fever was starting to break. That was good. I tried to raise my head, it was simply too heavy and I gave up. But I was pleasantly surprized when I curled my hands into loose fists. It was a small victory, but it was mine and I was grateful. I could feel the stiffness in the tense digigs from prolonged lack of use. I tried to flex them, but it was too much of an effort. I was still happy with what I had. My hands were returning to me. My hands took over where my voice fell off. They were vital to my soul. It was a celebration small but well recieved as I drifted off again, dreams of guitar strings pressed sharply under the thick pads of each finger, the soft caress of piano keys against the sturdy bone... yes, hands were vital to me and I was winning my war.
     There was a weight on my shoulder, but it did not hurt, there was no pain, only a pleasant sensation. And that delight washed over me when her voice accompanied the heft on my shoulder.
   "I've made you some more broth. I think it did you some good yesterday, your skin feels much cooler to the touch. I do believe the fever has broken. I'm so glad. I was so very worried when I found you. You're lucky I was out walking despite the foul weather. I needed more driftwood and went in search of some when I'd found you."
     She sat me up again and fed me the broth with the slight tang to it. It was good. But it still hurt like the dickens going down. I wanted so much to ask her questions, tell her things. But speaking was purely out of the question. My voice was valuable to not only myself, but to a lot of people. I knew it's limits and I knew I had to take care of it. While she was sliding another spoonful between my cracked lips I tried once more to test my limits. I loosely pulled my fingers together and pushed my wrist toward her thigh, next to where my hand lay. It startled her and the spoon clinked against my teeth when she jumped a bit. After she caught her breath she fauned over me.
   "Oh! I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you? Oh my... well at least you're starting to get back some movement... that's good. I was worried there for awhile."
     I tried to smile a bit, I'm not sure if I succeeded, but she got the point and gestured to me with the spoon. as she spoke.
   "Keep up with this good progression of recovery and you'll be on your way back home in no time." She smiled brightly at me. Home... I missed home, I wondered if they were all worried about me yet. I don't know how long I'd been gone. Surely Dad and Mom had started to think something amiss when I had failed to call. I could only hope.
     For days she took care of me and I did make one small victory after another in the war against what ailed me. I was feeling less and less like a prisoner in my own body. It was a very happy day when she brought me a pencil and paper. I could have cried and kissed her. If I had had the strength to do so. As it was, writing was going to be hard enough. I set to with a fierce desire to know everything. She watched as I wrote furiously, I was determined to ask every question I could possibly think of and got out as many as possible for me at the time with my limited strength. I was exhausted by the time I was done. I had a new found respect for those people that had to deal with this everyday in their lives. I was a man that had relied on such a luxury as voice and good health far too much. I now had an appreciation for the little things. Perhaps this was a test in my life to see what kind of mettle I was made of. Maybe it was just to show me that I should stop taking everything for granted and appreciate the life I was given more... whatever it was, i was ready for it to be a test in the past. I wanted my old life back and i was willing to work for it.
   She took the paper from me and sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes flicked over the paper and I only hoped she was able to read the chicken scratches where my once legible handwriting would have been. It took her a fair amount of time to get through it. Once she had she she looked up at me, i could actually see the word form on her lips. 'Wow.' It was enough to make me slantedly smile. She read through it and answered each question aloud.
   "Yes, I am alone, in a cabin near the ocean, vacationing. I found you on the beach and I ran back to my place for the horse and made a drag to get you back here. The nearest doctor is twenty miles away and you just couldn't handle the trip and I had no phone to call anyone so I took care of you. I don't know how long you were on the beach, but you've been here for nearly a week. When you're well enough, I'll leave you and go to the store in town and call your parents for you. I'm sure they are worried sick about you. I didn't know what happened to you but i assumed that you were on the water and washed up on shore. You were lucky to survive that big storm in this chilly fall weather. But why on earth were you sailing alone? Oh yeah, sorry, you can't really answer that now can you? Sorry. And my name is Angelica. Angelica Price. It's nice to meet you Isaac." She slipped her hand into mine and squeezed it briefly, but left it there. I smiled at her. So much was answered, it was a great relief.
     Over the next few days I gained a lot of strength, but I was smart enough not to risk forcing my voice just yet. I would write to her, long notes that she would read over as she sat on the edge of the bed, her laugh was heavens music and her eyes flashed with a vitality of life that was like a rare gem. I loved to watch her as she read my words and wondered what kind of a reaction she would have if she were to hear them instead. I longed for the day when we could just talk back and forth. We went through the days of my recovery together as she tended me. It was more then embarrasing when she had to help me walk to the bathroom. But I didn't mind too much when she would give me a sponge bath.
     I felt that familiar tingle of attraction to her from the first time I lay eyes on her. And the more time we spent together, I thought that maybe she was atracted to me as well. I got my answer the next time she brought the old tin basin of steaming water to the bedstand.
     She was so gentle with me. Her caress was like a breeze sliding over my skin. Her words were soft as she whispered soothing things to me. When she pulled back the sheet I wasn't sure if it was the chill in the air or her touch that raised the chill bumps. She sat beside me, her long brown curls tied back in a plain black ribbon. It suited her, brought out the finely sculpted cheekbones that God had blessed her with. Her eyes sparkled in the dim light as they passed over my body. It was almost as if I could feel her gaze slide over my flesh. She tenderly washed me, like a prized china doll. My breath quickened when her long fingers stroked over my chest after she had dried it. It was like she was feeling how soft her touch had made it. She bathed my arm, paying great detail to each of my fingers then moving on to the next arm to repeat the steps and ending the whole ordeal with a promising kiss to the end of my index finger. It sent a rush through me.
     My eyes found hers with question, the answer I got was one that thrilled me to delighted joy. I read her desire there, plain as the day is long. She got up from the bed and pulled the sheet back to the foot of the bed. My arousal was evident in the tented boxers I now wore. She licked her lips and I thought I'd pass out. She surprized me when she hiked up her skirt and stradled me. Her voice was husky and soft, her breath sweet against my lips.
   "I want to kiss you so bad. Can I? Please Isaac?"
     I could only nod but I wanted to scream 'yes!'
     As she neared me, somewhere in the back of my mind it occured to me that she really shouldn't be kissing me, there was a chance of her getting my sore throat. As soon as her sweet lips brushed mine, all thoughts were gone save for those of how fantastic this woman was making me feel. Her tongue dipped into my mouth, swirling with mine and I was on cloud nine. I sucked hungrily at her, needing to taste as much of her as I could. Her lips tore from mine and I would have groaned if I'd had the voice to do so, the silent ache that thudded in my throat intensified when I strained to do so when her hot wet mouth took to my neck She moved her sucking soft kisses down over my heaving chest and drew a straight line down the center of my body with her tongue. My hands ached to touch all of her. I grabbed at the pillow to steady myself when I felt the rush of dizzyness as she circled my navel. She pulled the band of my boxers down, her warm damp breath gliding over the seeping tip of my manhood. I raised my hips for her and she pulled them off, tossing them to the floor like discarded candy wrapers. She teased me mercilessly by taking up the washcloth again, bathing my throbbing cock with the warm water. The rough texture of the cloth made me squirm when her hand wrapped around my stiffened length, sliding up and down to a rhythm lusty. I was panting by then and a strangled wimper escaped when she cupped my heavy balls and lapped her pink tongue over the sensitive head of my prick. My fingers tangled in her hair of it's own accord. She took me to nirvana when her wet lips closed over my aching shaft. I had all I could do not to thrust wildly into her warm mouth. She sucked me long and hard, every stroke better then the last. Her tongue cradled me, flicking at the end and makeing my innards boil with want. Her eyes grabbed mine and I sucked in a deep breath as she plunged down on me, taking me to the back of her throat. My head was thrown back at the intensity and speed with which she brought me so close to the edge. I needed to have this release she held out for me. It was hypnotizing to watch her head bob on my pole. She stopped and I wanted to cry out in protest until I saw the look in her eyes.
   "Are you ready for it baby?" She whispered, it gave me chills. I nodded and braced myself.
        She lapped at the oozing precum that dribbled down from my sore slit. Then with uncharacteristic gusto, she shoved my cock into her mouth gruffly, cramming it all the back in her throat and swallowing hard. It poured from me in blinding flashes of bright lights and the world tipping upside down as I came harder then I 'd ever imagined.
   "Oh! Ohhhh Angel... " I sighed in a rough hewn rasp.
     Her hands still tight on me she looked up at me and I felt my body's zing when I looked down at her cream coated lips. Her eyes were dark and her words making my soul shake with the posibilities.
   "Sounds like you're getting your voice back. Who know's maybe in a few weeks you'll be able to sing to me when we make love."
     I caressed her soft hair, cradling her head in my hand, fingers splayed through the long brown curls. I smiled down at her, the light in my eyes telling her that I would love nothing better then to do just that.
   "For you my angel? The saviour to a prisoner of war? I would Do that and so much more."
     And I've kept that promise. Fourty years now, and I don't see me breaking it anytime soon.