Morgan pointed out the window toward the falls and then popped open the door, before he could protest. She stood in front of his car, headlights shining around her, as she bent her finger, beckoning him to come to her. The fact that he didn’t come right away made her want him more. He wasn’t a puppet to anyone. He didn’t follow orders. He gave them, and he made her wait, as he contemplated whether he wanted to join her or not. She held her hands up in a pleading motion and pouted. He didn’t budge, so she removed her shirt and dropped it on the ground, as she stepped out of the light and into the darkness that covered the rest of the reserve. Morgan shed a piece of clothing, with every few steps she took, leaving a trail for him to find her when he finally decided to join her. She stepped into the water, gasping at how cold it was this time of year. She eased into the water, her nipples hardening under the fabric of her bra as she shivered. It was exhilarating, the bite of the cold water against her skin. It made her feel alive. The reflection of the moon shone over the water and Morgan got lost in the beauty of the night. When she turned back to shore, she was waist deep. She saw Messiah standing on the beach, holding her clothes in his hands. His arms were outstretched in perplexity.

She was glad she couldn’t hear, because if she could, she knew he would be calling for her to come back. He would be trying to talk some sense into her and she just wanted to blow free like the wish weeds she used to pull when she was a kid.

She turned her back to him and stared at the moon, transfixed, until she felt the ripples of the water change patterns, letting her know someone else had gotten in.

“You’re crazy as shit,” Messiah said. She saw his lips moving but there was too much space between them, and his skin mixed with the dark night made it impossible for her to tell what was spoken. She moved closer to him and he tensed. His shoulder-length dreads were pulled back off his face as he stared down at her.

“It’s time I take you home.” She shook her head.