Capture the tide.

Chapter 3

"Father" Marina answered with cool indifference, both an acknowledgement and a dismissal as she turned on her heel and walked in the direction of her bedroom, determined to ignore the tightening of her muscles at his presence. Her body automatically on high alert.

"Uh excuse me" Her father called out, catching her off guard twice within twenty-four hours making her halt her steps as she turned back around to face him, she watched his face tense as he took her in, from the mud on her dress to the scrapes and bruises littering her arms and legs. She couldn't help the cruel smile that hitched up the side of her lips, he finally noticed something.

"Yes?" She answered quickly, craving the heat of her shower before she crawled into her bed and slipped into oblivion. She was far too exhausted to be dealing with this right now, with him. Crossing her arms over her chest, she lifted her nose at him as she tapped her fingers impatiently, tick tock her eyes spoke to him.

"You look... uh..." He stammered out which made Marina's eyes furrow for a second in confusion, the man who was always so cool and collected seemed completely lost for words these days. 

She waited, eyeing him carefully as he raked his hands through his already messy hair as if he'd been doing that a lot lately, her heart ached slightly at the thought as the old love that she once felt for the man threatened to shine through. He lost his wife, the feeling seemed to whisper sadly to her, but her nostrils flared at the thought, and I lost both of my parents her hurt screamed back, slamming that door shut and locking it away.

"I... uh... Marina" He muttered more before squeezing both hands into fists and releasing them through a deep breath as he fidgeted with the rings on his fingers, Marina started as she noticed that his wedding band was missing... he had never taken it off before, but her father hadn't noticed the shock plastered on her face as he pushed on, "Listen Marina Darling, we need to talk... I uh-"

"Look, I've had a long night. Can't this be a conversation for another time? " Marina cut him off impatiently, struggling to keep her roaring feelings at bay. If he has been actively seeking her out for conversations all day, she was sure it couldn't be a good sign. Ignorance is bliss or so they say. 

"It is quite important Marina" he said firmly, impatiently. But Marina didn't care for his feelings, she was tired, her body ached, and she needed to get out of this stupid dress and into something more comfortable before the mud-covered fabric seeped into her skin. And besides that, he was pissing her off. When did he ever find her for conversations?

"So important that you have to ambush me in the middle of the night?" Marina fired back, her temper flaring bright in her ocean-colored eyes as she tried and failed to keep her emotions in check. Her body shook, from the effort or the pain she wasn't quite sure, but she took a small step back as they blended together. Fire burned in her eyes.

"Well, that wasn't my intention nor-" He started but Marina took another small step backwards seemingly done with this conversation, cutting him off once again.

"I'm going to bed" she said finally already walking away, heading towards the direction of her bedroom. Her body ached and her mind roared alongside it.

"Marina, this conversation isn't over!" He spat out from behind her, she hated the way it made her cringe but despite herself she turned back to face him, her hard exterior cracking as her emotions lead the charge. 

"Yes, it is" She spat out with more venom than she thought capable, "any conversations between us were over the moment my mother died" tears of surprise sparked in her eyes but from pure will and defiance she refused to let them fall, she couldn't work through all her feelings that crashed over her the moment those words left her lips. Was that regret or relief that clogged up her throat and hollowed out her ears? Marina didn't have time to grasp her emotions as her father's face turned cold.