Isla
Swallowing hard, because however much she understands, of course the words hurt to hear, Isla schools herself back into calm and gives him a gentle nod. "I want you to know that if I ever say anything like that, it isn't with the expectation that you'll feel it or say it back. I just know that it can be helpful, to explain how I'm feeling in simple terms, rather than trying to over explain it."
She's about to reach for her tea again when he speaks next, the words enough to make her flinch, and she snatches her hand back and bites at the inside of her cheek until she can trust herself to talk without her voice trembling. She partially succeeds.
"Ever, you are not something to just be thrown away," Isla nearly whispers. "The man I fell in love with had many of the same traits you do. Kind, clever, articulate. Just because things are difficult it doesn't mean we just pack up and leave. You don't know if I would have fallen in love with this version of you. Because like you said, we only interacted a few times. Give yourself a chance, if this is something you want."
And if it isn't?
Well, that's an entirely different conversation.
The small sliver of hope that fires in her chest is nearly painful, to hear about Mateo's plans, and she raises her eyebrows. "He has? I'll reach out to him. See if he needs any help."
She's about to reach for her tea again when he speaks next, the words enough to make her flinch, and she snatches her hand back and bites at the inside of her cheek until she can trust herself to talk without her voice trembling. She partially succeeds.
"Ever, you are not something to just be thrown away," Isla nearly whispers. "The man I fell in love with had many of the same traits you do. Kind, clever, articulate. Just because things are difficult it doesn't mean we just pack up and leave. You don't know if I would have fallen in love with this version of you. Because like you said, we only interacted a few times. Give yourself a chance, if this is something you want."
And if it isn't?
Well, that's an entirely different conversation.
The small sliver of hope that fires in her chest is nearly painful, to hear about Mateo's plans, and she raises her eyebrows. "He has? I'll reach out to him. See if he needs any help."
sooner or later, we all have to wake
and try forgetting everything
and try forgetting everything
