The ocean lapped gently, creating a line of white where the liquid tripped over itself to land on the sand. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. The surface of the water was uninterrupted and as smooth as glass. But where a moment ago the world was dark, it was now a myriad of colours. Oranges, violets, greys, and all shades between could be seen in the painting before her.

The lower of the clouds appeared almost purple in hue, while the sun threw its powerful light over the sea, basking it in yellows and reds.

It was the most magnificent sight she would ever see.

“It’s. . .” she started. Romy turned to Atlas, who had moved and now stood beside her.

“Glorious?” he supplied.

Romy nodded thoughtfully. It was, and more. “Inspiring,” she decided.

“It is,” he replied after a few beats.

She looked at him questioningly, and he gestured to the water with a smirk. “Weren’t you going to do an acid test?”

“Are there any crocodiles in there?”

“If there are, I’ll save you, I promise.” He winked at her.

Romy punched him lightly and ran to the water. Just one toe.

The air whooshed out of her as Atlas seized her from behind and tossed her into the turf.

She’d never been submerged in water. The experience was terrifying. She glared at him, emerging from the water in a spluttering and coughing explosion of spray.

Atlas was bent doubled in laughter. And she crept up on him, wondering how best to submerge him. But in the next breath, it was like someone sucked all the laughter from him.

Atlas pulled Romy out of the water, all humour gone from his face.

“Atlas, stop. What are you doing?” she gasped.

“Romy!” came a familiar shout.

Romy froze in the ankle-deep water. She knew that voice. Her muscles locked, telling her not to look because what if he wasn’t there? She would break into a million pieces if she turned and the beach was empty. For all that she had held together until now, she would fall apart, never to be whole again if she were only imagining the sound.

“Romy!”

Her eyes flew up to Atlas’s.

“Romy!”

Atlas was glaring over her shoulder. The voice was real?

The voice was real!

Still half-disbelieving, she spun to find the beach wasn’t empty.

Romy knew his dark skin and athletic form better than her own reflection.

Thrym was sprinting down the beach towards her.

“Thrym,” Romy whispered.

Forgetting her mostly healed ankle, she let go of Atlas’s hand and took off, water flying everywhere in her splashing steps.

“Thrym!” she screamed. Romy tore through the sand, running to him, only seeing him.

He reached for Romy and swung her high. The weight threw them both to the sand, and the pair rose to their knees, clutching at each other, making desperate, furtive touches to reassure themselves the other was there.