" sometimes you come to an edge that just breaks off. "
( * —————— [ SLIDQUIETLY ✉ ] ❛ plainwater by anne carson . ❜ )
declan knew exactly what noah meant.
he’d had a recurring dream that sounded a whole lot like it. it began ( or ended? ) with a step too close to the cliff’s edge, with the earth crumbling beneath his feet, and then him falling… and falling… and falling… sometimes he was afraid as he fell through the air. sometimes he was angry. sometimes he felt nothing at all. when he finally landed, it was always the softness of a cloud that welcomed him, not the cold, hard surface of an ocean one would expect. declan would often let himself sink into the deep dark blue, wondering all the while if he should remain under or swim to the surface. noah looked like he couldn’t afford to sink. it looked like he could barely afford to just… be.
“ would you like some company? ” declan offered, a knowing look in his eyes. underneath the boring black tie and the boring white shirt was a tender heart. despite what ronan might have claimed, declan was kind and declan cared. he appraised the younger boy carefully before continuing, “ i don’t mind staying until your friends get back. we can… hang. ”