Reclaiming the Sand

I turned to face him and found that he hadn’t moved any farther into the room. I bit down on my resentful irritation. Why couldn’t he be normal just this once? I thought hatefully before I could stop myself.

And then I felt guilty for thinking that at all. I wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for Fly

But it didn’t stop me from wishing like a selfish brat that he’d suck it up, just this once.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It’s not his fault. I reminded myself over and over again. He did this for you.

I opened my eyes and crossed the room back to Fly

Fly

I saw that he was starting to calm down. He had stopped rubbing his hands, though he continued to gnaw on his bottom lip.

I found Murphy’s bowls and filled them with food and water. He scarfed it down quickly and then resumed his nap on the bed.

“Do you want to go to the beach?” I asked, hoping he’d say yes, though deep down knowing better.

Fly

“How about we open the doors and walk out on the balcony first. See how you feel about it after that,” I prompted.

Fly

I opened the sliding doors and waited for Fly

“It’s cold,” Fly

“Do you want a sweater?” I asked him. He shook his head.

“No, I’m okay.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the picture before us.

“What do you think? Is it as horrible as last time?” I asked.

Fly

I took one of them in mine and squeezed. “I think they feel just fine,” I told him.

Fly

“It’s pretty,” he said quietly.

“It is,” I nodded.

“I like being here with you. It makes me happy. Does it make you happy?” he asked, sounding worried.

I turned him by his shoulders so that he was facing me. I lightly grasped his chin between my fingers and pulled his face so that he was finally looking at me. I rubbed my thumb along his lower lip.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. Thank you, Fly

Fly

We stood that way for a while; our hands clasped together, the breeze from the ocean swirling around us. I laid my head against his chest and felt the thud of his heart beneath my ear, lulling me with its steady comfort.

Fly

“I love you, Fly

“I have something for you,” he said after a few minutes. I looked up at him to find his green eyes dancing.

“You do?” I asked.

He walked into the room and I followed, closing the doors behind me.

Fly

He held his arm out, his hand closed in a fist around the mystery object.

“Give me your hand,” Fly

I did as I was told and he placed something in my palm.

I looked down to find a miniature sand castle. I held it up to the light so I could see it better. It actually seemed to be made of sand. It glinted and sparkled as I moved it.

“This is amazing,” I enthused.

Fly

“It’s so you can remember coming to the beach. All of those other sculptures were of places you’ve never been. You’ve been here now. You should have a sculpture of a place you’ve actually seen,” he said, a hint of joy in his voice.

I curled my fingers around the tiny sand castle and held it over my heart. “Thank you, Fly

Fly

-Ellie-

We decided to get di

We left Murphy sleeping in the room and went down to the small bar. Fly

The bartender tried to make polite conversation but soon realized Fly

“He was just being nice, Fly

Fly

“You don’t like it when I do that, do you?” he asked, his hand, filled with fries, hovering over my plate.

“Not really. You have your own food,” I pointed out. Fly

“Sorry,” he mumbled and returned to his steak.

“It’s okay,” I said and then took a few of my fries and put them on his plate.

“But I thought you didn’t want me to eat them?” he asked, confused, but picking one up and putting it in his mouth.

“It’s okay if I give them to you, Fly

He liked that explanation and he ended up eating all of my fries anyway.

After we finished our di

Fly

“Fly

Fly

“Okay?” I asked, hardly able to believe how easy that had been.