He moves to leave, and for a minute Amalia considers letting him, the space between the widening like a hungry, gaping maw. What harm would it do to go back to being strangers, to isolate herself within her silence, to shield her wounds behind armor of pain? Ronin is lucky, blessed, in ways he cannot fathom, in ways that the girl can only dream. He is beloved, he is reborn, he has a family and a life and a second chance.
And Amalia? Amalia has nothing but the tentative bonds she has only just begun to form, like this one, fraying before her eyes.
"Wait." Turning swiftly, Amalia steps back toward the counter, something raw on her angular face. "Ronin, I..." I'm sorry? I'm jealous? I'm lonely? I'm scared? It does not matter what she says, because they are selfish statements, not empathetic, hungry for soothing and safety and balm. She pulls at her sleeve uncomfortably, licking her lips, dark eyes trained on the counter.
And then she looks up, and smiles, or tries, the expression a shadow of her former blaze but at least it is something, an offering of peace. "The cakes should be ready in just a few minutes. You should stay, so you can take some home." Because Ronin may be only one tie, but that string is attached to Remi, and Aoife, and Amalia will not let that web of connections fade away.
And Amalia? Amalia has nothing but the tentative bonds she has only just begun to form, like this one, fraying before her eyes.
"Wait." Turning swiftly, Amalia steps back toward the counter, something raw on her angular face. "Ronin, I..." I'm sorry? I'm jealous? I'm lonely? I'm scared? It does not matter what she says, because they are selfish statements, not empathetic, hungry for soothing and safety and balm. She pulls at her sleeve uncomfortably, licking her lips, dark eyes trained on the counter.
And then she looks up, and smiles, or tries, the expression a shadow of her former blaze but at least it is something, an offering of peace. "The cakes should be ready in just a few minutes. You should stay, so you can take some home." Because Ronin may be only one tie, but that string is attached to Remi, and Aoife, and Amalia will not let that web of connections fade away.
Amalia & Jyoti
born from dark water, daughters of the rain and snow
