~𝟰𝟲~

                                    

                                          
(Third person, Lee Know's perspective)
Lee Know couldn't sleep that night, like every other night for the past week or so. So he got up to get himself a glass of water. As he walked, the light shone in his eyes from the other side of the hall, the full moon in view through the window. Then his brain registered that it was Ava's window that he saw the moon through. Her door was open. 
He slowly leaned past the door, only to find an empty bed there. It worried him. So he went looking for her. He tiptoed down the stairs and into the kitchen, looking around every corner, looking into every shadow. He stood with his hands resting on the kitchen island when he looked out through the sliding door. 
The moon was shimmering on the ocean, the moonbeams casting the sand in an eery white light. And that's when he saw her. She brushed her hair back before swimming with her back towards him to the edge of the pool. She seemed to be staring at the moon.
He slowly moved to the sliding door separating them, sliding it open with as little noise as possible. He didn't want to startle her. Then he walked out into the darkness, going to stand against the wall. He didn't move, so as not to make a noise. He watched her breathing, shoulders rising and falling slowly. Unconsciously, he matched his breathing to hers. 
From where he stood, he could see her one cheek and her eyelashes, both beautifully illuminated by the moonlight. The light cascaded onto her collarbones and shoulders, some of it crawling over her shoulders to illuminate a bit of her back. She seemed so at peace. 
His eyes traced the gentle lines of her face, neck, and shoulders, studying her intently. He couldn't see a single flaw. And then he saw them. The lighter lines on her back. Her hair was swept over her shoulder, so he could clearly see them. He counted at least five in the little piece of back that stuck out above the edge of the pool. 
It made his heart stutter and his mind swirl. Where did she get them? he thought. His hand itched to reach out to her and, with her permission, gently drag his fingertips across every one of the scars, while she explained where they came from. But he held himself back. He couldn't even think of doing anything close to that before he hadn't made up with her. His fear reared its head in his stomach again, but he ignored it. This might be the only chance you get.
And so, he took a step forward, the floorboard creaking rather loudly underneath his shifted weight. He saw her snap around, submerging herself underneath the water up to her neck. She looked at him with fear in her eyes. It felt like a white-hot rod of fire was stabbing through his heart at the sight of her afraid of him once again. He would have backed off if he hadn't worked up all the courage beforehand. He was afraid if he stepped out into the light, she might turn him away. So instead he decided to just say one sentence to set her at ease. To calm her down a bit. To let her know that it was just him and that he wouldn't be a threat to her.
"Can we talk?"
(First person, Ava's perspective)
I felt my body ease up and my heartrate slow down when I registered the soft voice as Lee Know's. He slowly came closer, stepping into the moonlight. The light flowed over his features, making him look like an angel. His cheekbones, eyelashes and cupid's bow were painted in white light, but what really drew me in were his eyes. He didn't seem so much hurt as desperate, and then I realised he was still waiting for me to answer his question. 
"Sure. I've actually been waiting to talk to you for a while now."
My voice sounded unsteady, but I hoped he didn't hear it. He nodded slightly, and I noticed how nervous he seemed. His shoulders were tense, and he kept rubbing his thumb over his middle- and forefingers. He slowly moved to the deckchair closest to the pool, moving my towel that rested on it slightly before taking a seat. He rested his elbows on his legs, fingers interlacing together. I swam a bit closer, still keeping myself submerged up to my neck. He wouldn't make eye contact with me, eyes darting around on the wooden floor boards below him. I waited patiently, knowing how hard it was for him. And besides, I didn't know what to say to him even if he did start speaking.