Seahorse B: B3: Late Tuesday Night
Jack slung his pack onto the bed and threw himself down after it.
He should have stayed longer. He'd hurt her by not staying, it had been very clear in her eyes.
But he'd hurt her more by being there and not remembering. He'd understood what Parker and Isabel had said, that she loved him. But he didn't love her. He was grateful that she'd cared for who he used to be, that she'd loved him, but it was overwhelmed by a blend of guilt and anger, and a sudden, sinking feeling that it hadn't been worth it.
A feeling that had magnified when she'd read the letter. The one he'd written her before he lost his memories. She was crying when she'd finished, but, hands shaking, she'd methodically torn it into tiny shreds.
He didn't ask what it said, and she didn't offer to tell him, but it hung between them, and he could feel her holding things back.
He'd had to leave. But he'd promised he'd be back, had promised to phone, had promised he wouldn't disappear again.
Now that he was back, the alcove seemed very empty. Not thinking too hard about his reasons, Jack went to retrieve his plant.
He should have stayed longer. He'd hurt her by not staying, it had been very clear in her eyes.
But he'd hurt her more by being there and not remembering. He'd understood what Parker and Isabel had said, that she loved him. But he didn't love her. He was grateful that she'd cared for who he used to be, that she'd loved him, but it was overwhelmed by a blend of guilt and anger, and a sudden, sinking feeling that it hadn't been worth it.
A feeling that had magnified when she'd read the letter. The one he'd written her before he lost his memories. She was crying when she'd finished, but, hands shaking, she'd methodically torn it into tiny shreds.
He didn't ask what it said, and she didn't offer to tell him, but it hung between them, and he could feel her holding things back.
He'd had to leave. But he'd promised he'd be back, had promised to phone, had promised he wouldn't disappear again.
Now that he was back, the alcove seemed very empty. Not thinking too hard about his reasons, Jack went to retrieve his plant.