Otter Creek innocent iii

Ana had expected it to hurt. Maybe some part of her had wanted it to hurt, though she did not and would not know how to put these feelings to words for some time. She shook her head a little, blinking as she turned big seaglass eyes on the man. For a moment she stared at him. Then back to the water. Then him again.

To his question, she nodded. Then, quiet and oddly toneless: I don't care if I hurt myself. She dipped her head to taste the water and was disappointed to find it saltless.

Again she looked to the man. You looked sad. Why?