Chapter 69: Chapter 69

The ocean waves crashed nearby, dark in the moonlight, the sand a pale swath against the night. Staring out at the ocean, she felt so tiny, so small. Insignificant. Lost, even.

Because I am lost. I don't know what I'm doing, or why.

Jorick turned his face to her, so that his lips were pressed against her forehead. His hand crept up to the back of her neck and tangled in her hair. He inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly, as though he were trying to hold some memory in his lungs. When he spoke his voice had an odd edge to it, "In the scheme of the world we are all small things."

She looked up sharply at his too perfect perception, but then realized that feeling small must be a common sensation when faced with such a view. She smiled at him, and he returned it, but somehow it didn't look right.