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What if We Drown 24
"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you home?" Kass asked as she hugged Ashlyn tightly."After all the cake I just ate, the walk will be good for me." Zion chuckled, patting his stomach to prove a point. Ashlyn noticed that her mother didn't say anything. In fact, she'd been quiet for most of the evening, and she felt partly to blame. Ashlyn wanted to ask if she was okay, to say something, but before she could, her mother bid her farewells and began her descent down the stairs. With a shared look of concern, Derek and Ashlyn followed behind.Standing on the bottom step, however, Ashlyn hesitated. Out beyond the door and across the street, the ocean was eerily still. The fresh spring breeze whispered across the surface in little ripples, and Ashlyn smiled. She could almost hear her Father's voice whispering in tandem with the wind, sharing his happy memories with the 'mermaids' that dwelled below, or so he'd taught her as a child.It had been a while since she'd last thought on
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Try as she might, Ashlyn couldn't find the words to answer. At least not the words he would accept. She shifted uncomfortably beside Zion, wishing she could burrow deeper into the blanket. She shouldn't have left the letter on the bench. It should have been discarded like the last six monthly letters she'd received, courtesy of her mother's recommendations. But in her rush to get to Derek's, she'd left the open mail on the counter. Not that she'd known Zion or her mother would be visiting.Her head whipped in Zion's direction, her back straightening. Mom. Had she seen the letter too? Zion shook his head no upon reading her expression."I threw it out before she could see." Ashlyn's shoulders relaxed. At least she didn't know.Zion bent one of his legs and drew it towards his chest. Leaning his arm against his knee, he shifted his weight to focus his gaze on Ashlyn."Why did you stop going, Ash?" Against the darkened sky, she could still make out the concern in his expression b
What if We Drown 26
Ashlyn shook her head, courage pushing her on towards the truth."What do you mean, no? Of course you'd be safe here, with your family." Ashlyn could hear the irritation rising in her mother's voice. Ashlyn took a deep breath and let go of her mother's hand. Please, Lord, give me strength; she sent up a silent prayer.I couldn't come here because you suffocate me, mom. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but Ashlyn silenced her, gesturing in a circle, her fists coming together. I needed space to think and figure out how I was supposed to talk to you."I... I suffocate you? What are you talking about, Ashlyn?" Her tone was disbelieving, and Ashlyn noted an ounce of defensiveness. Just say it. You can do this, Ashlyn thought.I know you don't approve of me speaking in ASL, Ashlyn answered, her hand clenching twice before forming an L at the end. And it hurts. Every time that you look at me that way or imply that I'm broken. It hurts me, mom.Silence filled the room; the burden Ashly
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Bumper's breath smelt strongly of chicken and something else when he jumped up and trailed his tongue across Ashlyn's face. Laughing, Ashlyn tried to push the golden retriever away so she could enter the house, but he kept up his incessant grooming."Bumper, what are y—" Kass rounded the corner and came to a stop when she saw Ashlyn and Zion standing in the doorway. There were smudges of dirt on her face and pieces of grass in Kass' hair. It looked as though it had been an eventful morning on Bumper watch."It's about time you two got here." Kass rolled her eyes playfully in exaggeration, a bag of dog food in one hand, a dog leash in the other."Do you wanna go for a run, boy?" Zion asked, scratching Bumper behind the ears."Already done." Kass grinned, hanging the dog leash on the hook beside the door. "Got to keep our boy in shape for all the ladies." She winked. Kass then launched into a story about their time at the park earlier that morning and all the dogs that had followed
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Midday at the hospital on a Saturday was a disaster waiting to happen. Visitors moved carelessly about the confined spaces, talking over one another in the hope that their concerns would be heard. Doctors and nursing staff tried to maneuver around the waiting families, reading off of charts, and answering questions that arose.Someone stepped on Ashlyn's foot as she tried to squeeze past a group of ladies who were typing on their phones. She turned and moved her fist in a circular motion over her chest, an apology, but the culprit was already gone. She didn't have time to worry about it, however, as Zion reached back to grab her hand and pulled her from the crowd of people."That was chaotic." Zion chuckled. Ashlyn let his hand go to respond.I wonder why it's so busy, Ashlyn pondered, glancing over her shoulder, and almost tripping when the toe of her canvas shoe caught on the linoleum. Zion reached out to steady her before she could fall forward."Woah. Easy does it. Don't want
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"You two, stop flirting. We've got work to do." Kass clapped her hands twice, interrupting Derek and Zion's conversation about the basketball game the night before, and who they believed was the real MVP. Ashlyn giggled under her breath.Kass was in director mode, commanding everyone like marionette puppets, directing them this way and that. For the first hour, the spectacle had gone ahead as planned, but now it seemed some lines had crossed over, creating the unscripted chaos the boys now partook in."Marcus!" She growled, slapping his forearm. "Put down the damn balloon. El tonto!" Marcus let go of the gold balloon he'd been sucking on, and it flitted around the room, the helium from inside blowing it this way and that. Ashlyn ducked as it swept over her head. The men in the room erupted in a chorus of laughter, one more high pitched than the others.Kass, however, remained unimpressed as she walked over to the corner where Ashlyn stood, massaging her temples."It's so hard to
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For the rest of the trip, Ashlyn stole glances of the peace he wore, certain she'd never checked a wing mirror more than she did in that one short trip. Even with his eyes closed, the magic he commanded did not dwindle, the pull of his smile still as strong. With each secret glance, she was confident that the next time, she would not be capable of escaping its depths. By the time Ashlyn pulled up to the curb and parked in the loading zone, her heart was putty within her chest, his smile the hand that would mold it. She turned to Derek and bit her thumbnail, trying to figure out how she would tell him of the plan. His eyelids fluttered, and she had to glance away quickly before he caught her staring. Bumper pushed his head between them with anticipation; no doubt sensing Abel was nearby. "I'll wait here with Bumper. You go and find Abel." Derek smiled, relieving her from her nail-biting. Her heart fluttered. Ashlyn wore a smile of gratitude, hoping that it didn't betray the flutters
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The room was a riot of regal colors. Metallic fractals of light glittered upon the vinyl floors, bouncing from the balloons floating above, and the streamers moved rhythmically in the breeze, creating shapes and a blend of colors that tickled Ashlyn's heart.She turned and held out a hand to Abel. With a look of puzzlement, he took her hand and stepped towards her. His legs buckled when he saw his living room, and Derek quickly caught his other arm. Held up between the two of them, Abel took in the display before him."I...I...wh..." Ashlyn squeezed his hand as Abel struggled to formulate any words. Abel turned watery eyes on her, and Ashlyn smiled back, everything she felt towards this man pouring into that one expression."Welcome home, Abel," Derek whispered, his voice catching. Abel let go of Ashlyn's hand and brushed the residue from his cheeks, before taking her hand firmly in his again. She watched as his eyes took it all in, her heart swelling with love."Did you do this?"
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