Emotional Intelligence

Annwyn watched as Talyssa's words mingled with the sound of the crashing waves, her presence commanding yet gentle. The shells placed delicately on the obsidian sand were minorly distracting, at least because the pale woman was wondering if she could fashion more effigies with the items. Annwyn’s eyes followed Talyssa's every move though soon after, the determination in her glance and the unwavering conviction in her tone capturing her attention well enough.

As the lesson on empathy unfolded, Annwyn felt a cold familiarity with the concept yet remained distant. Her own experiences had taught her that survival often required a lack of empathy, a harsh lesson learned through betrayal and solitude. Yet, Talyssa's emphasis on understanding emotions resonated, if only faintly, against the walls Annwyn had built around her heart. She considered the lesson’s implications. By now she held no care for who saw her thinking so openly, she merely wanted to be in this moment. A small touch of companionship, nothing more after seasons of solitude.


the selfish