but here's the deal.
these two are perfect.
that's it.
Here's my favorite scene of them.
from mara's POV obvs
Happiness is relative though.
Not everyone sees jubilee and cheerfulness the same way. Then sometimes, people
do not see it at all; whether they choose to or not. I wonder now if Zack knows
how unhappy he looks; or rather, if he cares. And if he does care, does he
choose to be unhappy or does sadness consume him?
Despite the looks of the
others, I sit down next to Zack. He has moved back behind everyone else; they
are close to the edge of the cliff, which undoubtedly scares him, I can see it
in his eyes. And his hands. They’re
shaking; yet the rest of him is calm. He sits cross-legged like before, while I
place my hands behind me and straighten my legs out in front. The people around
us start to shed clothing, one by one taking the daring plunge off the cliff
and into the water. Screams fill the air and break the silence. Silence I
crave; somehow I know Zack craves it too.
“Aren’t you coming in?” Tay
asks sweetly.
“Maybe later.”
Shrugging casually, she dives
in hands first, like an elegant swan. Zack and I breathe out at the same time.
Huffs of air escaping our open lips; signs of instant relief. He chuckles softly;
the tone is low and whole. “I don’t even want to be here.” He tells me,
sighing.
“Then why do you come?”
“My brother.” I give him a
confused look. “Drew. He’s my older brother; my parents won’t let him go out
unless I go with him. Drew and Zack Light: The Light Brothers. Always living up
to expectations – until now.” His voice is somber. It’s obvious now that the
overwhelming sadness is not a chosen phenomenon. “Now the devil lives in my
soul.” He laughs darkly. “At least that’s what the Sage says. He believes I am
plagued with unhappiness for years to come.”
“Unhappiness because of what?”
I want to know more about him. He intrigues me; I worry now of self-investment.
I thirst for knowledge of his past. Who
is he? Where did he come from? Who will he become?
“No one knows. It appeared out
of nowhere. But it’s here to stay.” His mouth forms a defined frown.
“No it’s not.” I say, standing
up. I begin to take off my dress until I’m just standing in my undergarments. I
extend my hands down to help him up. “What are you doing?” He asks me while
taking my hands. I don’t answer him at first. I unbutton his jacket slowly and
then his shirt, throwing the tie to the side as well. “We’re going to find
happiness.” I say.
“What do you mean?” He asks me,
apparently very confused.
“You said unhappiness found
you. Well, we’re going to find happiness.” I take his hand in mine, think no
second thoughts, and leap off the edge of the cliff. He’s screaming at me,
words of hurt I’m sure, but I can’t bring myself to care. My fingers are being
crushed in between his but this is the happiest I’ve ever been. The air gets
warmer as we fall; the wind floating down my scarcely clad body, raising goose
bumps on my skin, giving me feeling. As soon as we hit the water, all the air
gets pushed out of my chest. On impact, Zack and I are separated. I search for
his hand but I don’t see him. At my first instinct to breathe, water floods my
lungs. I splutter but eventually make it to the surface. While wading in the
water, I see Zack break the surface not too far to my right. I look at him and
nod at the bed of rock in front of us. We pull ourselves onto the rock and he
stares at me with wide eyes. “You alright?” I ask cautiously.
“I feel alive.” He reaches over
and wraps me in a hug. Water droplets roll off of our bodies, and the wind laps
at our feet, but I am warm, I am calm in his embrace. “Thank you.” He whispers
into my neck softly. I can feel his hot tears against my skin. I can’t say
anything in return; tears block my throat. In my lack of ability, I rub his
back repeatedly in circles. Tears continue to flow from his eyes, the pain
released in physical form, him breaking down for everyone to see. Is this what alive feels like? Have I ever
really been alive?
