The Rain Can Fall and the Wind Will Blow, the Sun Will Shine Anywhere We Go

She opens her eyes and feels the sand beneath her bare feet. The wind smells like brine as it blows through her hair. Above her, the sky is impossibly blue, as is the ocean beside her, a vivid teal and crystal clear as the tide washes on shore. It is as perfect as it could be. It is almost paradise.

“Nadia…” a voice calls, and that, that, is what makes this paradise. 

He is here with her. 

Despite their rough patches in recent times, there is nobody, nobody, she would want to see more. But she is not back there, in the land of suffering and mistrust and cruelty. She is here, where the two of them can be safe, forever. No more looking over their shoulders. No more security detail everywhere they go. No more stashes of fake passports and cash just in case. None of that matters here.

As she walks closer to him, she sees how full of life he is. He is not beaten and bloody: he stands proud with that little grin of his that still makes her blush. He is not weary from the constant stress of trying to repay debts or protect them from those who wanted them dead. He is not distracted from the moment: he is giving her his full attention and affection. He is her husband, and she loves him. She needs him, too. Although she is grateful her time without him was brief, it was enough for her to know she never, ever, wants to feel that desolate again. A smile creeps across her face as she realises she never will.

He holds out his hand. She takes it.