Hazy Shade of Winter

Their love had bloomed so effortlessly, and it had flourished with just as much ease. It felt so familiar to be lying here with her, despite how much had changed between them - perhaps this was why this hurt so badly. Remembering what had once been, what could likely no longer ever be again. But it was refreshing, so refreshing to feel her touch, to smell her so close to him. Maybe that was why he'd reacted so aggressively last time he'd seen her. He knew she could enchant him, without even trying, and reverse the walls that he'd spent so long building up. Pushing her away was easier than actually facing the reality of all that had happened to them and their lives.

It was hard to move past the present. Any thoughts of a future escaped him. It was difficult enough to not think about the past, over and over, as he had a thousand times before. A heavy sigh fell from his lips as he embraced her, suddenly aware that he was shaking slightly even as he sat on the solid ground. His posture was weak as he lay with her, pressing tight against her, his head hanging as it drew her own skull against his chest. Silence settled over them for a moment, and he reveled in the nothingness.

She spoke again, though, and her words broke his heart. Such a simple, familiar pet name for him. He wished he could cry then; perhaps it might make him feel better, give him some kind of relief. He winced as she placed a kiss upon his cheek, though didn't retract from the familiar sensation. Where had he been? He felt his breath hitch painfully in his throat.  "I.. don't know," he breathed, hardly speaking words at all.  "On my own, mostly." Recently, at least. He wasn't exactly lying but he didn't quite know what else she wanted - or needed - to hear. Zephyr felt like nothing he could say would help her understand at all.