My friend.

He sneezed as the feather drifted off Hana, and was kicked up by his passing, only to drift past his nose on its way down again. The feather went shooting off into the distance as the force of his expelled breath. He shook his face, and rubbed his nose, still alarmed at how much time had passed. He had intended only to rest his eyes for a moment. How was he still exhausted? He had clearly slept for ages.

“Okay, that works. So remind me again, why did my dad put you in charge?” he half teased her. He knew the reasoning, his dad had told him. In private he had called Mort emotional and reckless, and Hana reasonable. Well it had stung to hear from his dad, that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease Hana with it. And besides, he needed a little teasing in his life right now. He wanted to slump and kick the earth. He was so frustrated at not being able to find his friend.