EVERGLOW

XXVIII. When dawn breaks

"Strawberries!"

He breathed out in relief at the delight in her eyes. She still loved them.

She grabbed the small bag he'd pulled out from his jacket pocket, before he laid the designer item down on the sand. He'd thought about bringing a towel along but that would have been too big. At least, this gave him an excuse to sit closer.

They sat close enough to the water for her hemline and the bottom of his pants to get soaked when the waves came in.

"I haven't had these in a while."

"Why is that? They must have those in New York."

She took a while choosing her first piece quietly. He watched as she picked one and nibbled on it, looking out far into the purple waters.

"I tried to be somebody else there. It was the only way I could...stop myself from coming back."

He took the bag from her and picked a random fruit.

"So you grew your hair long."

"I started drinking coffee."

"Stopped eating strawberries?"

"Forced myself to wear nightgowns."

"That's pretty drastic."

"You have no idea."

She smiled sadly as she remembered that first night at the hotel room. It was too big, the bed was too soft, the sheets smelled too much like bleach. She'd slept on top of the covers in the dark, refusing to cover herself with the strange smelling sheets, and not wanting to stare up at an unfamiliar ceiling. She'd barely slept, too busy keeping the hem of her nightgown down over her legs.

"I slept on the couch for a few months after you left."

His confession snapped her back to the present. She stared at him, juice from the half-eaten fruit in her hand trailing down her wrist. But he refused to meet her eyes. He picked another piece, popped it into his mouth and swallowed before he could continue.

"The bed was too big."

"The couch must have been too short though."

He leaned back, planting his hands on each side, one arm touching her back.

"It was better than seeing your empty side."

She buried her toes in the sand, unable to think of anything to say to that.

"It was hell, staying away from you. I thought you never wanted to see me. After everything I said." He turned to look at her and she did her best to smile.

"Idiot. I'd never not want to see you."

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that. For that long."

She felt the tear roll down her cheek, the side away from him. And she fought the instinct to wipe it away. She didn't want him to know she was starting with the waterworks already. She picked up another berry and popped it into her mouth.

"You bought my books. How did you know it was me?"

"The first one was quite a sensation. I'd know your drawing from a mile away, Yue. And the name made sense."

The sun was halfway gone and a lot more of her dress was getting wetter, the rising tide bringing the waves closer to his abused jacket.

"I thought you were so mad at me you sold the house to the first one interested."

He scoffed, forgetting it was his turn to pick a berry. "I thought you were so mad, you wanted to get rid of it so bad."

She shook her head. "I just couldn't stand the hotel room anymore. It was too...bare." Lonely.