you are coming down with me, hand in unlovable hand

She waded further and further into the water, trying to ignore that strange phantom that once again plagued her vision. Why was she seeing him now, of all places? Theory only wanted to slip beneath the waves, hoping a benevolent current might bring her home to the far shore. Every waking moment was agony. The further she stepped away from Thalia, the more she relented and allowed the pain of her symptoms to finally overcome her. Putting up a good front had been necessary for a time, but maybe now she could finally... relax. Theory felt her paws slip off of the sand and she began to bob amidst the waves. With a disgruntled last look at the Firefly Guy, she gestured wildly towards the rabbit's foot, hoping he might finally leave her alone. Just when the urge to force her head beneath the surface almost overtook her, she thought of Shaye's kind face. The trust that had been put in her. A sob broke forth, lost immediately in the roar of the waves. Theory turned towards the opposite shore and began paddling painstakingly slowly. Back towards home.