Post by orby on Apr 2, 2019 9:56:04 GMT
She was quiet for so long that the hope in his chest felt nearly stretched to snapping, about ready to accept more awkward silence in the face of his babbling. But then she actually answered, and that tension eased in the most relieving, soothing way.
"Kara," he repeated with a soft smile, nodding and committing it to memory. "I'll remember, too."
He would. He really would.
And it was nice to think he'd be remembered as well, hopefully in a good way. He nodded again, mimicking her, and watched as she departed with a swell of...something. "Excitement" seemed too intense, but it was better than just happiness.
There was just something deeply satisfying about it, the thought that he might have done alright after all and actually helped someone. Like he'd done something good. Or, from a slightly less selfless viewpoint, like he'd proven he could handle that bare minimum of functioning on his own and interacting with people in some productive, positive way. Like him abandoning all responsibilities and taking off on his own wasn't a complete loss on the world's part because he could still do good here on his own.
Or maybe it was just a simple encounter between two people and he needed to stop reading significance into everything.
Either way, he felt good about it, especially as he watched her actually go down the street he'd suggested. It could just be a coincidence, but he liked to think he'd made some useful suggestion. And, y'know, sent her in the right direction. Also important.
There was a warm tightness in his chest that somehow wasn't unpleasant -- like his heart was swollen and too snug against his ribcage but in a cozy sort of way -- as he finally continued on his way down the main road. If he didn't even think to tug his hood back up again, well...that sure was a thing.
"Kara," he repeated with a soft smile, nodding and committing it to memory. "I'll remember, too."
He would. He really would.
And it was nice to think he'd be remembered as well, hopefully in a good way. He nodded again, mimicking her, and watched as she departed with a swell of...something. "Excitement" seemed too intense, but it was better than just happiness.
There was just something deeply satisfying about it, the thought that he might have done alright after all and actually helped someone. Like he'd done something good. Or, from a slightly less selfless viewpoint, like he'd proven he could handle that bare minimum of functioning on his own and interacting with people in some productive, positive way. Like him abandoning all responsibilities and taking off on his own wasn't a complete loss on the world's part because he could still do good here on his own.
Or maybe it was just a simple encounter between two people and he needed to stop reading significance into everything.
Either way, he felt good about it, especially as he watched her actually go down the street he'd suggested. It could just be a coincidence, but he liked to think he'd made some useful suggestion. And, y'know, sent her in the right direction. Also important.
There was a warm tightness in his chest that somehow wasn't unpleasant -- like his heart was swollen and too snug against his ribcage but in a cozy sort of way -- as he finally continued on his way down the main road. If he didn't even think to tug his hood back up again, well...that sure was a thing.