Body crouched, eyebrows puckered, eyes darting from one end of the pool to the other, Din’s hands braced on his knees. Face closer to the water. Maybe she was here.
At this point, Marie could be anywhere, hiding, too scared and hurt to show herself to the world, to the world where her name has never left wagging tongues for days now.
The only thing that would make sense was finding her, holding her in his hands, staring into her green eyes again, and telling her how sorry he was for judging her, for spitting those words into her face.
A shape moved under the surface. Slow at first, Din caught it, something like blonde hair, dashing his hopes, but he remained hopeful.
Then quickly, it burst up.
Water exploded high, cold drops slapped Din’s face. Ran down his cheeks. Soaked his beard,
