Page 73 of The Splendor of Fire
He inclined his head toward the pond. “And you don’t like water?”
Kicking off her shoes, she smoothed the mud with her foot and drug the stick through it.Childhood fear.
“Can you not swim?”
She brought her thumb beneath her chin and moved it outward.I can.
“You can swim, but you won’t?”
Her eyes scanned the water, full of fear.
“That’s a shame.” He walked backward a few paces, reaching overhis shoulders, pulling his tunic off, and shedding his shoes and belt. “Because I like to fly too.”
He sprinted, springing off a rock and somersaulting toward the water. Out of practice, he over-rotated hitting the water belly first, a tremendous clap filling the valley between the mountains. Flesh stinging, he connected with the bottom and pushed himself back toward the surface.
From the shore she was doubled over laughing.
“Aie, I’m out of practice. Stop laughing, you’re hurting my feelings.”
Wiping her eyes, she tried to stop but couldn’t. A hoarse wheeze emitted from her throat.
He smiled. “It wasn’t that funny.”
She tried to compose herself and mouthed a word.Oui.
The cold water invigorated him and he dove below, extending his arms, relishing his first swim in too long. He surfaced and floated on his back, arms overhead, sunshine over his skin. After a few minutes, he circled back and found her sitting on the shore, watching with an envious look on her face.
“Come on, Moira.”
She shook her head.
“I’ll help you, just put your feet in.”
She picked her cheek up from her palm.
“Don’t you want to feel what it is to love the water? You’re not a little girl anymore, you’re strong. Let me show you.”
She straightened a bit more.
“If you conquer the water you’ll be able to fly through the air, sprint across the ground, and swim the deep.”
She got to her feet.
“I won’t let you drown. There’s no waves here, nothing to pull you under. I won’t let go of you.” She came to the bank and waded in until her ankles were covered. Breath coming in bursts, she unfastened her belt and tossed it into the grass.
Swimming toward her, he came forward until the water was only waist high. “Come toward me.”
Taking a breath, she waded in to her knees, then her thighs. He puthis hand in hers and she came closer, the water flowing out from her waist. He pulled her a little deeper and her eyes widened with fright.
“What are you afraid of?”
She signed and mouthed.Open. Water.
“Not drowning?”
She shook her head and signed, mouthing careful words.Swept out. Lost. Alone.
Alone.It was Léo’s own darkest fear. He closed his hand around hers tightly. “You can’t get swept out here. It’s not deep enough. You can just stand up and walk out.” Moving out until deeper water covered his shoulders, he held on to her.
