Story: The Healing Hand
Story by: Gail Nobles ©️ 2023
Cover Art by: Gail Nobles

Aneeyah thought long and hard about Bombylias. Before Dragonfly had came to her, she had given up on him. Aneeyah thought about the Bee-Fly man the whole day. Though he was far from her, she could feel him getting sicker from not getting help, and it was only because she cared for him.

She thought: The man is messed up on account of something I did long ago.

Aneeyah began to make chicken vegetable soup for Bomylias thinking she had time to help him before seeing Dragonfly again. She wanted to get Bombylias into her earth sheltered home where there was a secret room under her outdoor flooring tiles. There were also secret stone walls and secret passages.

Bombylias was hiding far in the hills across a river where Aneeyah lived. But she had never crossed the River. She walked across stepping stones which was a trail to where Bombylias was after a few miles.

When Aneeyah got to him, she found him in a cave house. She could see inside his front glass doors & windows from a distance.

Aneeyah thought: Not good. Someone could spy and watch him.

But when she got to his glass door, it was a beautiful place inside. His home was built inside a cave. Like Aneeyah, Bombylias had a second home away from Diverse City. His ceiling was made of rock and his walls and floors were made like those in a regular house.

Aneeyah rung the Bee-Fly’s doorbell. She saw Bombylias coming to the door bent over and weak. He knew she had came to help him. Aneeyah wore a backpack. Bombylias thought it would be foolish to turn her away. Pitifully, he opened the door to let her in and quickly walked away to sit down.

Aneeyah walked in. Closing the door behind her she said: “I know you’re not feeling well.” She sat down on the couch beside him taking off her backpack. Then she got down on her knees in front of Bombylias and looked into his eyes. They had dark circles around them. Aneeyah took his temperature to see if he had a fever but Bombylias had no fever.

She said to him: You’re not sick. It’s the curse of Dragonfly. What did he do to you?

When Aneeyah said Dragonfly’s name, Bombylias jumped up to run away from Aneeyah not knowing which way to go. He stumbled and fell. Bombylias was afraid.

Aneeyah: What’s wrong Marcus? Are you alright?

Aneeyah rushed to help Bombylias. He grew out his wings but he could not fly. He crawled to get away from Aneeyah. Aneeyah backed up from him.

Bombylias: Leave me Aneeyah. You work for Dragonfly!

Aneeyah: I don’t work for him, but he came to me looking for you. I did not tell him that you are here. Don’t be afraid. Let me help you. You can trust me.

Bombylias laid still and cried because he felt sick, weak, and helpless.

Aneeyah: C’mon Marcus. Let me help you back to the couch where you can lie down.

Bomylias decided he would let Aneeyah help him back on the couch. Then she pulled a tall cup of soup out of her backpack and warmed it up for Bombylias to eat. He had no appetite and felt too weak to eat. When Aneeyah tried to feed him, he turned his head.

Aneeyah: C’mon Marcus. You’ve got to get your strength back so you can move. Dragonfly can find you.

Bombylias: I don’t trust you. You’re like a gypsy girl. No tell ‘em what’s in that soup.

Aneeyah slowly removed the spoon from the Bee Man’s mouth. She put the cup of soup down on the table that was in front of them as they sat on the coach. She got up to leave. Aneeyah was kind of hurt.

Bombylias saw that he hurt Aneeyah’s feelings. He quickly apologized because he did not want to be left alone.

Bombylias: Don’t go Aneeyah. I’m sorry.
Bombylias began to cry again.

Aneeyah: You poor miserable wretch. Be nice or I will leave. I am not a gypsy. Now let’s try this once more. You’ve got to try and eat.

Bombylias began to see Aneeyah as a woman that could help him heal. She put a giant patch dipped in medicine over his right eye that was swollen. Aneeyah stayed with Bombylias for three days until he got his strength back, but his sickness was still an unsolved mystery.


You're listening to Artful. A podcast of short stories by Gail Nobles ©️ 2023.