He had come back. But he didn't have a plan beyond that fact.
What now? Surrender to what he wanted—what she'd made clear they both wanted—and appease them both in the moment, but make the inevitability of their situation all the worse? Solidify this state of unhappy equilibrium, no longer even enjoying the illusion of trust and closeness? Break up the marriage in character, forfeit its benefits but stop endangering the mission over it?
All he wanted to do was hold her and sleep. Really sleep, as he hadn't all night—as, it seemed, he couldn't outside her arms. Wrapped up in her and her in him, as they had only last night.
"Is my being here okay?" Not a challenge, not a dare, not passive aggressive, not even an act: simple, earnest, sad-eyed and soft-voiced wondering if any of this was salvageable—if she could ever possibly be glad to see him again.
no subject
What now? Surrender to what he wanted—what she'd made clear they both wanted—and appease them both in the moment, but make the inevitability of their situation all the worse? Solidify this state of unhappy equilibrium, no longer even enjoying the illusion of trust and closeness? Break up the marriage in character, forfeit its benefits but stop endangering the mission over it?
All he wanted to do was hold her and sleep. Really sleep, as he hadn't all night—as, it seemed, he couldn't outside her arms. Wrapped up in her and her in him, as they had only last night.
"Is my being here okay?" Not a challenge, not a dare, not passive aggressive, not even an act: simple, earnest, sad-eyed and soft-voiced wondering if any of this was salvageable—if she could ever possibly be glad to see him again.