The walk to the mangrove stand is beautiful and as the minutes pass by, Syl feels all the more fortunate that Skull had found her in the field. She can see the beginnings of a life here, a wonderful, peaceful life, different from anything she’s ever known. Here she can forget her awful beginnings, her abandonment by her mother, her early life on her own, her family history, her time as Nerissa’s play thing …
She and Szeth can build a life here. They can be happy.
Her smile widens as they reach the stand and Szeth welcomes them in. “Thank you Skull.” She peers her head in, looking into the dim ring of mangroves. It’s quiet here - the mangroves dampen both light and sound - and the sandy earth looks soft and comfortable. Szeth for his part immediately makes himself at home - the boy stumbles on wobbly legs to a small depression in the sand and flops over, sighing loudly. She chuckles as he tucks his legs under him and his head to his side. The soft sound of snoring quickly fills the grove. “It’s perfect Skull. And look, Szeth clearly think so too!” He offers to watch over her and Szeth and her heart melts even more. “Thank you again Skull.” She hesitates. She’s never been much of one to talk about herself, she hadn’t even with Kreios, Szeth’s father, but there’s something about Skull. She feels that she can trust him, at least a little. “I … it’s not been an easy few years for me and … I really appreciate what you’ve done for us. Thank you, truly."
She looks away from him awkwardly, suddenly embarrassed. Then she walks into the grove and finds her own soft spot to lie down in, and lays her head down to rest.
syl
when you think of love do you think of pain?