tear me away from this fight, tear me away,take me to an alternate world
Will Graham had retreated to his mind palace as a means of escapism. Here he could be free, here everything outside of the world he had created didn’t matter. Innocence, guilt, nothing mattered. Not even presumed death.
“Are you getting tired yet?" Will stood like a towering building over Abigail who had bent over to rest her hands on her knees, fishing rid tucked between her arm and side. They had been at this for hours now — in his mind.
The doe-eyed girl shook her head and glanced up at him, her skin pink against the sunset. “No, I'm not." A lie as simple and sweet as a fresh cherry picked from a budding tree.
“Maybe we should set up the tents?" He reeled in his line that was absent of any fish, then took the rod she had and did the same. "Over there." His hand outstretched to point in the direction of flat grassland beneath a large, right in the way of the sunset’s rays.
Graham watched as she made her way out of the water and up to the land, the sun dancing along her skin as if it were caressing her.
Soon joining Abigail to help her set up the tent before nightfall. Jokes, playful nudges and laughter was had. Soundless in his mind, fast and quick flashes of light and warmth. A feeling he hadn’t allowed himself the pleasure of having in quite some time.
Under the safety of their makeshift shelter they laid. Sounds of the earth, the forest around them filled the air and made no room for conversation. Civilization was lost to them in this moment.
Swallowing the courage he wasn’t shackled with in his mind palace, he reached out for her and this time she reached back. His hands found the soft skin on the small of her back and moved up to rest at her spine. Drawing her closer as she held onto his arm, scared as though he were going to kill her, eyes wide.
“You’re safe with me, Abigail.”
In that moment he could have swore her body relaxed against his as if she believed him. Someone believed him. Going back to reality was the furthest thing from his mind. They were dead to the world beyond this one.
