“ Do you think it’s okay to fall apart? ” ~ { @riidcr }
“...what? ”
Oh.... oh wow....
The question sunk in her chest like being struck with a swung pillow. Surprising, catching her off guard, and knocking the wind out of her, but only painful if she really thought about it for a moment. And she did, for a long moment in fact. She mulled over her usual wonder of misunderstanding him or hearing him wrong, but there was no mistaking the look on his little face. This poor child really was asking if going through one of life’s most universal experiences .... was okay...
She waited a moment more for him to respond but... it became clear he wouldn’t. The captain took a deep breath, carefully selecting the words in her brain for perhaps a little too long, before managing to clumsily fill the quiet.
“ Fallin’ apart ‘appens t’ everyone, Flynnie. Happened to me, happened to Molly, and... ”
Her words were soft, but her tone was a somber one. She didn’t look at him. Perhaps she should have.
“ It’ll happen to ya if it hasn’t, more than once if yer lucky... Fell apart myself a couple o’ times now...”
Her heart told her to elaborate on that but her mouth just wouldn’t move to let her. That was such a dark time... such a long time ago... and it wasn’t her place to scare him with her own stories. How can she be understanding without opening herself? ...could she...? Suddenly, an idea flicked to life behind her eyes and her somber tone was dropped like it never even had weight. Sweetly, she turned to address him:
“ Ah, of course! Why don’t ya follow me, lad; I’ve got somethin’ to show ya...”













