The Difference Between Vulnerability And Desolation Is Fear | Aphmau AU

Fifteen/Seventeen

The 7th of May, Sunday, 2018.

I was up really early the next day because Aphmau was arriving. I had physical therapy and it started at mid-morning anyway. I took a quick shower and got dressed, then walked to where the place it was, taking two hours because it was on the other side of the island. Luckily I had seen it before when Melissa and Dad were fussing over finding the house, so I knew where I was going.
   It last until 6pm, which worried me because Aphmau arrived at 2pm. It stressed me out and I almost had an attack but the new doctor calmed me down. However, when the doctor unlocked me from the strange contraption in the water, I ran off and towards the beach, despite usually getting weak when I did it. It wasn’t a long run at all anyway.
   I knew where she was. While I was in the water I tried to listen for her heartbeat like I had in the lodge. Surely enough, I got to the beach, and found her sitting on the sand with Celestia. I stared for a while and then Celestia spotted me and barked, running over and jumped up.
   Thank Irene I didn't fall, and I smiled instead, stroking him. Aphmau was looking at me back when he jumped down and I looked at her. We stared for a while. And kept staring. Staring. She got up. She ran over to me. I held my arms open as she hugged me, like Celestia, almost knocking me over. She was running faster than Celestia had, but Celestia was heavier.
   When she hugged me, my arms automatically hugged her back hard, but nobody cared because she was doing it back. We both started crying and she hugged me tighter. We stayed like this for I don't know how long and nobody complained.
   Her heartbeat was as loud as ever, but that was because I was still focusing on it. If it was quiet from multiple miles away, then it was really loud now, but I didn't care. Somebody could be blowing a train horn in my ear and I wouldn't give a damn. I had Aphmau now. I didn't need anything else, nor did I want anything else.
   Two hours. That's how long we stood embracing for.
   I very slowly let go. "I-I missed you so much..."
   Agreeing, she squeezed my hand. “I missed you too!"
   I squeezed it back, using my other hand to wipe away a few almost dry tears. "I-I don't want to go back to the house yet." I mutter, staring at her. She hadn't changed at all. I was afraid that she would have been skinner from not eating and stress, or just different, but she wasn't.
   "I don't either." She forced a little bit of laughter. That laugh. I didn't realize how much I missed it. "Can we just... Sit here?"
   Nodding, I waited until she sat down then sat beside her. Although I was staring at the ocean and the beautiful sunset, amber and pastel pinks filling the sky. I saw in the corner of my eye that Aphmau was staring at me, but I didn't ask why and smiled. Asking wasn't necessary - I already knew why. I had scars all over me from when she hurt me and they were very noticeable.
   I smile as Celestia walked over and sat on my lap, so I pet her. "How is Alexander doing?" She asks.
   "I-I don't know. He's still in Falcon Claw. He got sick just before we came, so we had to leave him there to have his treatment, and my dad is going back tonight to get him then come back for me.
   "Aww. What happened?"
   "I was taking him on a walk in a nearby forest with Melissa and he got stuck in a bear trap while we were playing fetch, panicked, and fell into another. He broke one leg and the other has stitches."
   She pouts. "Poor boy."
   I nod and very slowly wrap my arm around her shoulders, both of us blushing. It was weird. It felt like that whole year never happened. "How did you manage?" She asks.
   I force laughter. "I don't want to talk about it. What about you?"
   "Well, it started off terrible." She paused in the middle of what she was saying and then sighed. "I did hurt myself a few times..."
   My eyes widened. "What?!"
   "I'm sorry! I'm sure you would've done the same thing if you could!" She had me there.
   "Well, I thought you were staying at your mom's? And that she was looking after you?"
   "She wasn't looking at me every second of the day, all the time. She started work after the third month."
   I sigh quietly. "Aph..."
   "Look, I really don't want to talk about it."
   "Fine, fine. The rest of the time?"
   She shrugs. "I kept it in all the time. I couldn't stop thinking about you, no matter what."
   I looked at her and stared back. "Really?"
   "Not once."
   I kept staring till I kissed her cheek, but she turned her head to face me so I pecked her lips, making me roll my eyes. "Me either." I respond.