This was unnatural. Bitter. As his arms wrapped around her firmly he would breathe her in. For the first time this was real air that saturated his lungs and filled his memories with something sweet. Past arguments and lonesome separation with siblings fighting he still sought her out. Hung around her and riled her up just to be with her. Kate was family, only family he knew. Her body was dense, actually real. Even if this dark labyrinth could create such an illusion he wanted to enjoy this for a little longer. When she spoke he could feel himself breakdown. Every bit of weight on his shoulders found itself slipping away. She was here. She was right in front of him. Scott relinquished ever bond he could think of. Empty promises weighed him down for days and when she showed up he felt responsible to show her that he was a different man.
This bittersweet reunion had him fantasizing about the days in church, the trailer, just the feeling of belonging to a caring family swallowed him whole. Was all of this the faith that Kate talked about? Was this the love she no longer had to give? He held on a little longer and finally his fingers slipped down her arms not wanting to vaporize if he let go of her fully. His fingers curled and hung on her wrist. His eyes looked to hers searching for answers. With one hand he lifted her chin.
“Am I being punished?”
It was a loaded question like all the others floating around in his head. But again and again she reassured him she was here, everything was going to be okay now. He bit the bottom of his inner lip trying not to express how such a lonesome fate was something he did not want but everyone believed he did. His ocean, his rocky ocean being her.