Eela considered changing but thought better of it. Her Academy t-shirt was a strange comfort and this was not some date or special evening out. Later she could dress up, but right now she was going to appear exactly as she was feeling right now.

She tapped out a message (I’m home) and it wasn’t long before there was a simply: |I’ll be right over.|

When Dash arrived, Eela said a quiet hello and led him into the living room. It was strange to be replaying the beats of this familiar scene but with such different feelings. Dash watched her curiously but seemed sensitive to her more somber mood and a sense of concern from him flooded over her. A part of her wanted to rethink the location and move elsewhere, maybe the family lounge, but no she wouldn’t. Just because Cory had created a scene in this one room didn’t mean she couldn’t be here with someone else. It was her home, and she could damn well do what she liked!

Eela sat crossed-legged on the sofa and turned to face where he sat near her.

He gazed at her, those striking blue eyes worried. “I saw your response. Are you alright?”

She thought for a moment and shook her head. “No, but I will be. It’ll be a process.”

“Can you tell me about it?” Dash asked, bringing his arm up to rest on the back of the couch, creating an open space between them. There was hesitancy in those lovely eyes of hers but he intuited that it was not about his question. Or not directly.

Eela inhaled a steadying breath and nodded, beginning her story. She told him everything in the same detail she had shared with Kenzo, including Roger. The disclosure felt important as it said something fundamental about who she was and how she went about life and relationships. If there was going to be anything more than just a flirtation with this man, he needed to know what it was he was getting into.

It took all of Dash’s restraint to not move closer, to not reach out and touch her to provide reassurance. While it felt like she was reciting events from a distance, he understood all too well the emotional strain an experience like that could induce. And for her it was seemingly out of the blue, nothing to prompt it. The shock of that alone would be hard to process. Worse still was that flare of fury on her behalf that he quickly tamped down so as to not be a distraction.

“It was so strange to watch them escort him out and Jal’na got me safely out of the glass, but I couldn’t stay. This whole space felt heavy and painful. So she told me to pack a bag and we left, went somewhere where I would feel safe.”

“Did that help?” he asked.

Eela nodded. “It did. It was not always smooth and I was admittedly a ball of chaos spinning all over the place, but bit by bit I could breathe again. And the more I could breathe, the more I could at least think practically, even if I’ve not really been in a position to process.”

“You’ve been in damage control mode,” he said knowingly.

She nodded again. “Yes. And I did a few things that helped get me back into my home again.” Eela smiled. “Haliian things. Pieces of my culture I had somehow let go of at a point I’m not aware of.” His smile prompted her to continue. “But I’ve been also thinking about how to move forward personally these next few days when everything is so very busy and intense professionally. And I guess it felt important that we touch base and make sure we are both still good for Thursday night.”

Dash gave her an understanding smile. “Do you still want to go together?”

“Yes,” Eela said. “I’m looking forward to it, even though it’ll be the first real public appearance since… everything.”

He nodded slowly. “I’m looking forward to it as well, and I still want to go. But… you’ve been through a lot so I feel like I just need to say this: you get to change your mind at any time. Preferably before I leave to meet up with you, but even then, just send me a message. And whether it’s an arts evening and dinner, or simply a quiet cup of coffee, I really want to spend time with you Eela. Whenever that might be and however is most comfortable right now.”

Her smile was genuine. “I appreciate that.” Dash was quiet for a moment, dropping into pensiveness. She tilted her head a little, trying to meet his gaze. “What is it?”

His eyes met hers again. “I’m glad you at least got the restraining order, Eela. I can understand not wanting to have to deal with something more public in your position, but in my experience people who don’t respect boundaries need them more heavily enforced, especially if they’ve gotten away with crossing them before in any way.”

His words sat heavily between them and Eela was all too aware of the emotions swirling within him. “Dash?” she said softly, reaching out and resting her hand on his. He avoided her gaze for a moment while he was focusing on training his emotions and then she understood that he understood. “Who was it for you?”

Dashiel took in a deep breath and gazed at her. “My father.” She nodded and let him take his time before he chose to continue. “Basically he was a miserable man and was determined to make everyone else miserable. My mom protected my sister and I from the worst of it, but it wasn’t like we lived in a void.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He gave a rueful smile. “He died when I was fourteen and I honestly was glad he was out of our lives. But he left a mess behind, that was for damn sure.”

Eela snorted. “It seems to be the way of it.” She studied him a moment and pulled her mind back a bit.

But he was watching her and seemed to know. “It’s okay.”

“I shouldn’t do that, not without warning,” she said, pulling her hand away.

But Dash gently reached out with his other hand and took hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m not afraid of you Eela.” Her eyes widened and she became very still. For a moment she just focused on her breathing. “Go ahead, I don’t mind, really. Maybe it’s easier, I don’t know.”

So deeply connected to him, Eela let her mind skim the thoughts there and it was clear he was thinking of a specific time after his father’s death. Her face shifted through a variety of emotions as the story unfolded almost in bullet points… poignant and painful bullet points. “Dash…” she whispered.

“It’s okay, really. I’m not proud of that time of my life and I deeply regret a lot of things, but I did the work. I had a great therapist and eventually it got easier. and I could put it behind me and make something of my life.”

“I’m glad for that,” she said.

“It’s why I know you’ll find your way too, Eela. You’ve already been through a great deal. You’re a strong and resilient woman and I am so glad you escaped him.” She dipped her head, her hair falling forward. Dash reached out with the hand on the back of the couch and gently tucked the dark strands mixed with the occasional silver one behind her ear, his fingertips tracing her jaw and gently lifting it. “One moment, one step at a time. That’s how we handle this, okay?”

She gave him a warm smile and nodded. Then Eela shifted closer. Dash moved to make room for her and she settled in against him, their hands still laced. Dash wrapped his arm around her and they lay curled up together for some time.

~Eela Dasca & Dashiel Jones