It wasn’t often that Jonah traversed the cemetery - particularly not during the day. He was still trying to sort his own head, memories hazy, things from centuries ago feeling as if they were just yesterday, events from a week ago feeling as if they happened before he’d been born. He was still upside down, struggling to come to terms with the fact that his mind was finally healing again, and eventually he’d be a whole person. Maybe somewhat different from who he had been. Time had so rarely mattered to him in the past. He came to a halt near a grave, a woman already standing near it. He tilted his head, studying her. After a minute, his gaze wandered to the name on the gravestone and for a moment, his mouth went dry in recognition. Suddenly, memories of events of the last few decades snapped back into place. Emotions, guilt mostly, suddenly made his knees weak. He’d loved her. He’d loved her enough to leave. It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to stay with her - no, he’d loved her enough that he’d wanted her to live. His prior track record with both paramours and adopted children had been enough to warn him from staying too long in her life. None of them ever lived long, despite his best efforts. He’d known she’d passed, of course. But she’d had a life much longer than she would have if he’d stayed. But if she was gone, who was standing at her grave? He took a step back, feeling suddenly intrusive. @phesimmons
