The Woman from the Plane [Lost Fanfiction]

Chapter 28: The Shadow and the Soul

Valerie woke up and found the space next to her empty. They'd given up the pretense of separate houses months ago, and she'd happily moved all of her things back across the green to his place.

It had been blissful for quite a while, but he'd been distant lately—she'd noticed him retreating into his own thoughts more frequently. He'd always been introspective, but this was a bit different. He seemed on edge.

She got up and threw on one of his white t-shirts and a pair of her own worn out grey sweatpants. She poked around the house for a minute, but it was empty.

She knew instinctively where he'd gone—he'd gone where he always went when he needed to think things through in the middle of the night.

She found him there—just where she'd found him nearly a year ago.

He smiled wryly when he saw her.

"What?" she asked.

"I was just thinking that I should have left you a note—so that you'd know where I'd gone."

"I knew right away," she told him with a laugh. She dropped down next to him and tossed a stick onto the fire he'd lit. "What's on your mind?"

His brows shot up and he pursed his lips as he considered how to answer.

"I really love you," he said finally, as if still surprised by the fact.

"I really love you too," she replied, "you do know that, right?"

He nodded, fidgeting with his hands.

She realized he was holding something between his fingers. He noticed her squinting at it.

"I forgot that I had this—I found it quite accidentally." He held it out for her to see.

It was a simple diamond ring with a worn silver band.

"I think I am beginning to understand what happened to my father."

It was his mother's engagement ring, she realized, suddenly understanding where his mind had been for the last couple of weeks.

"He adored her." Ben looked at her, frowning deeply. He bit his cheek and turned back to the ocean. "Losing her destroyed him. I resented him for it—resented his distance, his relentless misery, his inability to care for his own child."

She put her hand on his forearm.

"I wonder what difference it would have made had I tried to engage with him—tried to forgive him."

"Ben," she said softly, "you were a child—his son. Your mother's death explained his behavior—it didn't excuse it."

"I killed the man, Valerie."

She nodded somberly. "I know."

"And I'm not sure I'd have fared any better than he did."

"You won't have to find out," she said reassuringly.

He took her hand and looked at her intently.

There was a deep sadness in his eyes, underlaid by a hopeful sincerity. She knew exactly what he was struggling to do.

"You have to ask," she told him through a smile, her eyes fixed on his.

"Do you want me to?"

She nodded.

"Marry me," he said simply.

"That wasn't a question," she chided gently.