For days she was caught up in these thoughts, growing more and more certain that he had left forever. She reached a point where she was fighting to avoid tears in front of her students. Then one day, as if he had never left, Alex just walked in the door.
At first she was so surprised to see him, she couldn't speak. A million different thoughts flew through her mind. But ultimately, she didn't say any of them.
"Why are you wet?" Those were the words that came out of her mouth.
Alex stood for a moment, just looking at her. He seemed to be trying to say something, but he kept stopping.
And then, before she knew it, he was kissing her. This kiss was filled with a passion she had forgotten he possessed. Dazed, she melted into his arms, savoring the warm taste of his mouth.
When she was particularly overwhelmed with an emotion, she tended to have strong visual associations. During stressful times it was the lapping waves of the ocean. In that blissful moment she saw herself standing in the bright sunshine, absorbing the heat from miles of glistening sand.
Finally, after a small eternity, he pulled away. The vibrant sun and sand in her imagination faded. When she opened her eyes, Alex was looking down at her with a happiness that filled him with light like a lantern.
"Don't-" She began, trying to regain some of the anger and confusion she'd had moments ago, "Don't try and change the subject!" She finished lamely.
Alex laughed, pulling her into his arms again. "I'm not. I won't. I'll do whatever you say." He said, in between bursts of laughter.
"Ahem." Alex moved backwards, releasing her from the hug but still holding her hands tightly, as if he was afraid she might disappear, "I really do have a good reason for being wet."
"And what is your good reason?" Mary was still trying to be stern, but she couldn't help but be infected by his good mood.
"I got a job." He said, mouth wide in a happy grin.
"You got a job?" Mary asked, then with more excitement, "You got a job! Oh, that's wonderful! I'm so happy!"
"It doesn't pay as much as the fishing company..."
"It doesn't matter..." She started, then reconsidering, asked, "How much less?"
At first she was so surprised to see him, she couldn't speak. A million different thoughts flew through her mind. But ultimately, she didn't say any of them.
"Why are you wet?" Those were the words that came out of her mouth.
Alex stood for a moment, just looking at her. He seemed to be trying to say something, but he kept stopping.
And then, before she knew it, he was kissing her. This kiss was filled with a passion she had forgotten he possessed. Dazed, she melted into his arms, savoring the warm taste of his mouth.
When she was particularly overwhelmed with an emotion, she tended to have strong visual associations. During stressful times it was the lapping waves of the ocean. In that blissful moment she saw herself standing in the bright sunshine, absorbing the heat from miles of glistening sand.
Finally, after a small eternity, he pulled away. The vibrant sun and sand in her imagination faded. When she opened her eyes, Alex was looking down at her with a happiness that filled him with light like a lantern.
"Don't-" She began, trying to regain some of the anger and confusion she'd had moments ago, "Don't try and change the subject!" She finished lamely.
Alex laughed, pulling her into his arms again. "I'm not. I won't. I'll do whatever you say." He said, in between bursts of laughter.
"Ahem." Alex moved backwards, releasing her from the hug but still holding her hands tightly, as if he was afraid she might disappear, "I really do have a good reason for being wet."
"And what is your good reason?" Mary was still trying to be stern, but she couldn't help but be infected by his good mood.
"I got a job." He said, mouth wide in a happy grin.
"You got a job?" Mary asked, then with more excitement, "You got a job! Oh, that's wonderful! I'm so happy!"
"It doesn't pay as much as the fishing company..."
"It doesn't matter..." She started, then reconsidering, asked, "How much less?"
