âAt least youâre  getting back  into  things again,  I  suppose  that's what  matters  at  the  end  of the  day.  Even  if  you  have  to go  through  some  aches  and  pains.â It  felt  difficult  to  allow  in  a  feeling of  excitement  to  have  the  other  around  when there  was  this  twisting  feeling  of  concern  in the  pit  of  her  stomach.  That  had  always  been  something her  mother  told  her  was  her  biggest  flaw;  she  cared  far too  much.  Thoughts  of  the  events  for  the  next  day  immediately went  out  the  window  of  her  mind  the  moment  it  was  clear  something wasnât  entirely  right,  priorities  quickly  shifted  to  fit  the  new  circumstances, all  of  her  focus  falling  onto  her  friend  instead  of  the  work  she  would  have  found herself  focusing  on  if  he  hadnât  unexpectedly  arrived.  âIf  it  makes  you  feel  any  better, I  think  most  people  tend  to  describe  it  differently.  Iâve  heard  people  describe  being  overwhelmed as  being  âbreathlessâ,  which  isnât  entirely  the  same  thing  but  I  suppose  it  gets  their  thoughts  over it  across.  I  think  it  depends  more  on  how  you  process  things  and  your  view  of  certain  feelings.â  Shoulders lifted  themselves,  rolling  in  a  slight  shrug  before  her  body  shifted,  tugging  her  legs  onto  the  chair  and  into a  cross.  There  was  never  a  need  to  offer  an  apology  for  small  ramblings,  a  feeling  she  had  with  most  others  in the  world,  but  never  when  it  came  to  the  other.  It  always  seemed  to  be  a  mission  to  provide  each  other  with  a  safe space  for  ongoing  rambling  or  complete  silence,  something  she  thought  they  had  managed  to  accomplish.  âIâd  ask  if  it  managed to  give  you  some  form  of  closure  but  considering  youâre  here  and  the  look  on  your  face,  Iâm  going  to  go  with  a  no.â  Lips  found themselves  pressing  together  briefly,  an  act  that  came  as  she  attempted  to  get  her  thoughts  in  order  around  the  subject.  âIs  there  anything I  can  do  to  help?  I  donât  exactly  have  a  cabinet  of  alcohol  here.â
âthatâs true.â even a month ago, watson would have laughed bitterly if someone had told him he would be back to training in the new year. it had seemed like such a far off concept, to be healed enough to be given the green light to get back into his regular routine. that wasnât to say the knee pain was completely gone. he had accepted that was something he would probably have to bear for the rest of his life, along with the other aches of joints from intensive workouts. but, she was right -- he was back in the water and thatâs what mattered, not the redeveloping sore muscles. âi still have to figure things out. i mean, my coach is in baltimore and i donât really plan on moving back this time. but, weâre training so thatâs a good start.â he gave a nod in acknowledgment of her reasoning to help him feel better. âstop being so smart,â he teased, completely jokingly. after all, her ramblings were one of his favorite things about their conversations and something he would never stop her from doing. âi donât think âbreathlessâ fits right now. just... overwhelmed. processing,â he nodded, eyes zoning in on a spot on the wall past devin across from him. as if his words were a command to himself, his thoughts turned, reliving everything athena had told him -- about cheating on him, leaving because sheâd gotten pregnant, having a kid. if anything, he was at least grateful her daughter had come out of the affair and he wasnât suddenly a father overnight. but, needless to say, it was still a lot to take in. drawing himself out of his thoughts to be present in his conversation, watson flicked his gaze back towards the other. âi think it will give me closure eventually,â he sighed, a heavy weight on his chest. âi have answers. i didnât have that before, and i think the unknown was what confused me more about how things had ended with her. itâs just... i feel like iâm trying to process and get over something that happened a year ago. in every other sense, iâm over it. iâve moved on. iâm with cyndi and iâve never been happier.â the corners of his lips turned up slightly in a brief smile at the mere mention of the brunette before he continued. âbut, all this information is new. i spent months trying to come up with an explanation for what happened, and the truth is so far from anything i couldâve imagined.â with a deep breath, he dropped the lacrosse ball onto the couch and swung his legs over the couch to meet the floor. elbows propped onto his knees, his hand rested on his chin as he shook his head, a quiet laugh at his usual voice. âno, itâs okay. i think i just needed a change of scenery,â he said while offering his friend a small but grateful smile, knowing there were very few people who would accept someone dumping their problems on them in the midst of such a busy schedule.
