Let's Not Stay Away Anymore (Kaimelia)

21: No harm no foul

Amelia walked through the parking lot - most cars had cleared out, so she stepped over the semi-faded white dividing lines between the spaces, careful to not step directly onto one.

A habit left over from childhood that she didn't mind.

It was one of those rare nights in Seattle where the sky was perfectly clear, yet the woman paid it no mind, since it was already past midnight, and how the day had gotten away from her, she couldn't say.

Scout was with his dad. Link had already sent a picture of him, captured during an honest attempt at navigating his first ever s'more.

With the only noteworthy sound being the light bounce of the soles of her shoes on the cool concrete, with a fleeting smile to noone but herself, she recalled the look of genuine commitment on her son's face as he tackled the second half of the sweet treat (the first, as the picture indicated, having ended up all over his face).

As she walked further away from the hospital, her tuckered out steps became her only focus.

Her sore shoulder reminded her of the hours spent on her feet, crouched over yet another smartass who'd decided to take their scooter out without a helmet in sight, during the morning rush. The nagging pain caused Amelia to start to fiddle with the strap of her bag, cutting into her skin through the several layers of clothing.

Amelia's eyes drifted briefly upwards once the pain didn't die away with the adjustment of the strap, however, as soon as a new sound from the other side of the parking lot reached her ears, she refocused.

Hospital parking lots in the middle of the night weren't exactly the most populated places, so her attention drifted to it instantly, gaze determined to find the source.

And there, about ten steps away, stood...

"Kai?"

Amelia squinted, not certain they weren't just a hallucination or a ghost, materialized from her missing them so much, or a sick, evil greeting from a returning brain tumor.

The figure slowly approached - it was really them. Flesh and blood.

Kai's hair was messy, messier than she'd ever seen - Amelia didn't need full daylight to note to herself, and, as they kept coming closer but not saying anything, their face presented stoic, not giving much away.

"Hi," Kai finally greeted the puzzled neurosurgeon, slowing their step even more as to keep a respectful distance.

When at first there was no response, Kai went to nervously tuck a strand of hair behind their ear.

"Of course you had to pester me with texts right when I was getting to the airport. If I'd picked up, or called back, you would've eventually heard either one of those 'Now boarding' announcements, or the 'Welcome to Seattle, enjoy your stay' one," Kai rambled, giving her their best attempt at a smile.

If only one singular person had ever thought to make a manual for these sorts of things... Kai thought, examining Amelia's features, feeling a rush of sudden uneasiness.

There she was.

There was no turning back at a time where they wished for nothing more than to have never booked the flight, or gotten on the plane.

Kai caught themself in passing not being able to remember why they'd made the decision to do what they were about to do in the first place.

"Are you mad?" Kai finally asked, head somewhat tilted.

Amelia shook hers no.

"Just shocked," She uttered.

"Good shocked or bad shocked?"