02-09-2026, 03:28 AM
Strangely, Liv felt better. Like just before taking a jump off the high dive. You stood up there, looking down, trying to build uo your courage. And of course, the longer you stood, the worse it got. But....once you stopped thinking and just jumped, well...that was it. The suspense was gone.
After that first leap, she didn't hesitate again. At least until the next time she decided to go diving.
The water was warm and pleasant. And now that she saw Nika was pained, she felt protective of her. Her own fears forgotten, she wrapped Nika's hand in both of hers, squeezing gently. "Ok, no more apologies. We both feel guilty about something and maybe we shouldn't. Let it be, ok?" She smiled brightly at the last, the unshed tears making her eyes glassy.
The server came at that moment and Liv laughed, realizing they hadn't looked at the menus. With a quick word, they were alone again. She smiled at Nika again. "I guess we better order." As she perused the menu, the words from the screen in the restaurant caught her attention. A massive snow storm coming. Mama and Papa and Grigor were out of town visiting her aunt. Liv had stayed behind because of classes and work. And because she didnt feel like she had the energy for an extended visit.
Which meant she wasn't sure what they had in the house. Nodding at the screen, "Wow. That's something. I will have figure out what I need for the storm."
After that first leap, she didn't hesitate again. At least until the next time she decided to go diving.
The water was warm and pleasant. And now that she saw Nika was pained, she felt protective of her. Her own fears forgotten, she wrapped Nika's hand in both of hers, squeezing gently. "Ok, no more apologies. We both feel guilty about something and maybe we shouldn't. Let it be, ok?" She smiled brightly at the last, the unshed tears making her eyes glassy.
The server came at that moment and Liv laughed, realizing they hadn't looked at the menus. With a quick word, they were alone again. She smiled at Nika again. "I guess we better order." As she perused the menu, the words from the screen in the restaurant caught her attention. A massive snow storm coming. Mama and Papa and Grigor were out of town visiting her aunt. Liv had stayed behind because of classes and work. And because she didnt feel like she had the energy for an extended visit.
Which meant she wasn't sure what they had in the house. Nodding at the screen, "Wow. That's something. I will have figure out what I need for the storm."