Stavanger Bay Smoking Embers

A misunderstanding…

This was all an utterly awful misunderstanding on every party involved, mostly hers. What jealousy she had felt before was now replaced with a sorrow for Andr and Ia. Her gaze flittered back and forth between the trees and the pair before her. She zeroed in on the scars that ran along the poor girl’s body, nausea creeping up into her throat at the thought of what she had endured.

Fleurette choked out a sob. “Ia…your scars…they were from the fire. And, Andr, you baulked when we arrived at those woods. I wish you had told me—I would have rather gone somewhere else! I—I’m sorry…I don’t mean to say that it was my place to know, but I only meant that I would have understood. That place held pain for you…the both of you.” The lithe girl had crossed the distance as she spoke, carefully as not to spook Ia, and stopped before them. Afraid to extend comfort to either. The thought of Andr running from her again pained her. And it showed on her face as she regarded them.

“I didn’t know…I’m so, so sorry.” Her eyes pleaded with Ia to forgive her for leading her to this place, tears creating rivers down her cheeks. She had only meant to help—she only caused more pain.