Artful Tenacity

Evie

i'll plant a row of daisy seeds
in the space beneath each eye

She lets herself smile at his confirmation; coyness is too far for her to grasp, so it leaves her stuck with the vulnerability of true pleasure and slightly pink cheeks, but it’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Loneliness has killed more people than sickness and starvation in her years as a healer. Evie doesn’t want to add herself to the roster of patients she couldn’t save. “What temperatures of water can you withstand? I only ask because I anticipate being in Halo soon.” The hope of a visit is clear in her tone even if she is no longer juvenile and flirtatious enough to twist the words more enticingly.

His sobriety is well-registered, and after a moment of contemplation her chin dips obligingly. “I can do that,” she assures, and sets her palm flat to the wet, compacted sand below, bidding it to deepen beneath Hadama’s body until he has a comfortable pool. Then it stretches beyond, like a child’s moat out into the sea for the water to flow and renew naturally with every wave. “Is that better?” One hand remains on the sand in case he has any requests or concerns. The other - used to needing to concentrate on many things at once in her career - continues to tend to the mussels to ensure they’re cooked evenly throughout.

so they'll remind you of your beauty
when they bloom each time you cry