All the places we've been

Mercury’s smile pulls a fond smile of her own to her red lips. He speaks of finding a ship and Keahi dips her head in agreement, softly saying, “Maybe one day.” The edges of her eyes crinkle in uncertainty, a small, subtle hint that something darker lurks beneath the surface of her story. But the red woman does not want to bother her stormy friend with such a dark tale and instead questions him about his home. The pair make quick work of the discarded fish carcass that the seals and walruses had left scattered about.

When Mercury begins to talk of his home, Keahi can’t help but stop and look up at him. The way he refers to it in the past tense causes a tightening her chest at the reminder of what she has and what he can never again see. He talks of a lake and the red woman can see it, the still waters reflecting the trees and windchimes that surround it. The water is the blue of Mercury eyes, that hide for the moment, seeing a place and time past. The red wolf has never seen a wind chime but, the way that he speaks so fondly of them, the tropical woman want to discover what they sound like.

Softly, Keahi says, “It sounds… magical.” Words fail the red woman as she imagines what losing her island would feel like. Tears prick the back of her eyes and, without another a word, she moves up to Mercury’s taller form and places her head on his shoulder. She sits in silence, leaning into him, offering him quiet strength to speak of painful times and a safe place to grieve… if he wishes to.


"Keahi Mogotsi"