Good Morning

Fifth Morning (Endless Pt 2)

It's not until the next day that she wakes up with her arms wrapped around his waist, clutching his shirt close to her chest as if she's afraid he'll disappear from the room again. The sun had already begun its ascent, painting the sky in a colorless haze of red and orange. She hasn't slept well since she realized what she'd done, and she can feel the grogginess weighing down on her eyelids.

It's her fault, but it's also not.  A year away, a year of pain, a year of needless suffering for her loved ones. That's why it's called a sacrifice.  She has to grapple with her decision for the rest of her life.

They say time heals all wounds, but there will still be scars. Ones that she will have to face daily. They'll fade over time, but will always be there as a reminder of her decisions, of her actions. She thought she could have her chewy cookie and eat it too.  So naive.

She lifts her eyelids slowly, taking in the sight of his bare chest, and the line of his jaw. His eyes are closed tightly, and she can tell he's trying to remain asleep with her tucked against him. He probably had an awful nightmare that woke him up, and now he's holding onto her for dear life.

"Nya," he mutters, but it's not a request or a command or even a plea. It's a sigh.

She swallows thickly and hesitates before asking the question that has been plaguing her since she's come back. "Are you mad at me for what I did?"

He rolls over to face her, but keeps his arms locked tight around her and dodges the question. "I just wanted to be near you," he says instead.

Her chest hurts, but it's a good pain. It's a feeling she's grown fond of, and one that she will never be willing to give up. She can't help but wonder whether it's different for him, whether it's simply the same old reason he gives her for everything. But she doesn't ask. She already knows he won't tell her any other reason than that.

"I wish we could take a detour out of here, and spend the rest of our lives living somewhere else, Nya. Somewhere where we didn't have to worry about anything. I'd buy you a house, with a big yard. We could live there together, and grow old together. I don't want to leave you behind, Nya."

"I'm not leaving you. I'm not going anywhere without you."

He opens his eyes slowly, meeting hers as he leans forward to kiss her forehead.

"Mmmmmm," she murmurs in the same moment that his lips touch her skin.

His eyes are still half open, but he seems to know exactly what he's doing, and he doesn't pull back from her. Instead, he buries a little deeper into the spot she's pressed against, and rests his head on top of hers.

"I love you, and I mean it. Even if I have to say it a million times a day until your face is red from embarrassment. Even if we're stuck here forever, I don't care. I'll always come back for you."

Her heart melts, like she is flying too close to the sun yet at the same time slipping back into the ocean, letting her element overtake her again. She clutches him tighter, never wanting to let go.