Where our Problems Began

As they spoke, Talyssa was sure she could almost see her father struggling with his own thoughts. Honestly, it was a bit comforting knowing that this was difficult for him as well. That maybe this was an example of an instance where there was no good answer. When he finally sighed, she was not expecting the answer that would follow. Lys immediately softened, meeting his gaze as he looked down at her. While she was relieved to hear his true acceptance, it wasn’t something worth getting excited about. She hated that this was even a discussion that they needed to have, but unfortunately, it was. “Thank you, Tati. Your support means a lot.” As she offered her appreciation, she pressed herself against his chest a little more tightly. “I don’t know what I would do without it.”

When he went on to describe that it was more specific than simply trying to hurt her, Talyssa tilted her head to the side as she processed her father’s explanation. The tone he used conveyed a far more serious nature. And while she was unfamiliar as a whole, she wasn’t entirely clueless either. As he described it as a consensual act, never out of force or coercion, she offered a subtle nod as a sign of acknowledgement. Though she understood the necessity of it, this kind of talk made her uncomfortable. As her father pointed things out; the way Sephiran looked at her, the way he had touched her under the guise of trying to help, and how he was obviously been prepared to try and detain her- all things that had been said to her before. But this time, she was given a sense of clarity as the context of things brought her recognition. Everything Sephiran had done and said started to all make sense in the worst way possible. She felt dumb. Naïve. Unclean. As she recalled more and more from both their encounters, her pale gaze widened as it settled on the ocean out in the distance. Talyssa was vaguely aware of her father continuing on. Reiterating that it was important to treat such a behavior as a threat, though the sudden feelings of shock and panic layered on embarrassment made it difficult to concentrate. Only when she realized he was done talking for the moment, did she think to answer. “Okay … I’ll be more careful.” She answered softly, not entirely sure if it even made sense within their conversation. Though Talyssa was lost beyond the point of trying to make sense of things at the moment- evaluating every word she exchanged with the Saxe boy. What a fool she had been.

"Talyssa Carpathius"