Seaside Moors keep coming back

A slew of questions threatened to break free from Raleska’s tightly clenched jaws. She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe he was here, acting supplicant as if he hadn’t just walked out of her life so many times before. As if none of it mattered!

Selfishly she didn’t even think — or register, really — about his life or his children. She only thought of how she’d given him so many chances, there’d been so many what-ifs and teasing blips of potential future happiness — and every one of them had shriveled like a clam in the sun. 

And how dare he! How dare he thrust this moment upon her out of the blue. She wasn’t just being put on the spot — her entire FUTURE hung in the balance following whatever choice it was she made. 

Her ears pinned in outrage. Her eyes narrowed in distrust and hurt. No. Raleska exhaled through her nose in bitterness. You’re just going to leave me again. How dare you? You already hurt me once. And now you’re back here acting like it never happened? Like you never walked out of my life? 

I can’t give you a chance to do it again. I shouldn’t give you another chance. It would be stupid of me, and I’m done making stupid choices.

Raleska’s gaze searched Kaertok imploringly — begging, hoping that he might fire something back. That he might give her a reason to doubt herself and let him back in, rather than sabotage any chance of future happiness.