Aljandrr's Arrest

“I called the guard, Aljandrr” Ijordi said. “They’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

            I froze with dinner in my mouth, and focused on deciding whether I’d swallow, choke or spit it out. I chewed. I let silence fill the room while tasting and savoring the bite. I knew it would be my last, if what I thought my arrest would bring were true.

            “We were talking about the beach, Ijordi,” I said.

            My mind threatened to collapse, and I forced it to avoid anything to do with Ijordi’s revelation.

            “I said I wanted to collect sea glass, and I asked you what your favorite color would be.”

            Ijordi stood and slammed his hands on the table. My food leapt from the plate, which followed it to the floor with a clang. My water glass toppled and spilled across the table. It rolled along the wood until also falling to the floor. The echo tried in vain to compete with Ijordi’s frustrated breathing.

            “Will you just hear what I said,” he said. “I turned you in. You’re going to prison!”

            “I heard what you said,” I said.

            I mopped up water with my napkin.

            “There’s just a lot to process.”

            “Well, process it. You have a little over ten minutes before they come to take you.”

            “Who?”
            “The guards!”

            “Oh, right. Because you turned me in.”

            Ijordi growled as I giggled. I knew it was a mean thing to do, but I wasn’t going to make this easy for him. I knew he was making a rash decision, and I was going to start his payment for it. I reached down and picked up the plate. I picked up the knife, and then the fork. And then I scooped up bits of food, one handful at a time, returning to a full sit every time.

            “I guess I should ask why?” I said.

            Ijordi started to speak, but I held up my hands.

            “But what would be the point? I’m going to die.”

            Ijordi spun from the table and stomped across the kitchen. I knew I hit a nerve, and was now convinced he hasn’t thought this plan through.

            “You’re not going to die,” he said.

            “No? I guess I’m unaware of how traitors and seditionists are treated by the Council upon arrest. I just know we usually never hear from them again.”

            “What? You think they’re going to torture you and kill you?”

            “At the very least, yes.”

            Ijordi was silent, and his head began to hang lower and lower. He was turned away, but I knew his eyes were watering. He started shaking. I walked up to him and hugged him from behind. I kissed the back of his neck.

            “For what ever it’s worth,” I said. “I forgive you.”

            He started to sob and there was a pounding on the front door.