[ this is better. she can feel him responding to her, as though he's come awake again. as if some piece of him is still in there. she misses the challenge and the fire and the—
having an equal.
that's what it is.
she studies him as he moves to embrace her, not with reproach, but with unguarded curiosity. with him she tries not to be on her guard, even if he does not feel the same. she'd never gotten him to feel the same. the ease with which she exposes herself to him, he does not share. he has just transitioned — withholding one pain instead of another. after some silence, she stops reaching and just asks. ]
Do you hate me?
[ she sounds ready to accept it, not punish him. after all, he had wanted this for himself. she was meant to be the one at his side. but that would never have worked. he had never had it in him. ]
no subject
having an equal.
that's what it is.
she studies him as he moves to embrace her, not with reproach, but with unguarded curiosity. with him she tries not to be on her guard, even if he does not feel the same. she'd never gotten him to feel the same. the ease with which she exposes herself to him, he does not share. he has just transitioned — withholding one pain instead of another. after some silence, she stops reaching and just asks. ]
Do you hate me?
[ she sounds ready to accept it, not punish him. after all, he had wanted this for himself. she was meant to be the one at his side. but that would never have worked. he had never had it in him. ]