Karissa and Will walked along the shore hand in had as the sun began to set on the horizon. It's golden glow seeming to melt into the water, as if both fire and water were merging. Suddenly, they found a spot on some rocks and took a seat beside each other.
Karissa loved the shore, the sound of the ocean, the feel of the sand between her toes. The smell of the salty water. And it brought with it so many memories; happy and yet sad, but also calming. She was aware that William was gazing at her. She turned to him and smiled.
"What?" she asked.
"You were deep in thought suddenly," he replied. "I was merely curious."
"I was thinking about how many major events in my life have taken place on one beach or another... Real or holographic..." she replied.
"Not all pleasant?" he asked as he tenderly caressed her face.
"Actually, they were mostly pleasant. Just looking back is kind of bittersweet," she replied.
"Ryan?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied softly. "Some..."
He sighed. "At least you're able to talk about him now. For so long you couldn't. Not without tears."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Well, there's a part of me that will always love him. But because of everyone that's supported me... and you..." she said as she kissed his cheek. "I feel like I can start living again and I think I've made some strides towards that."
Will smiled and held her close. "I believe you have," he replied. "You've allowed yourself to love again. That's quite an accomplishment, having seen you at the start of all this."
"Yes," she agreed. "But I also realized, after having been told maybe a million times," she grinned. "That Ryan wouldn't want me to stop my life. He'd want me to be happy. Not alone, destroying part of myself."
"Very true," he replied.
"But if it hadn't been for you, Will, I might have continued on my unhappy path," she said, gazing into his warm brown eyes.
"That virus was what made me confess to you, you know," he said. "I was so worried about trampling on the captain's memory."
"Well, then in some sense, I'm glad it happened." With that she kissed him tenderly.
He smiled as the kiss ended. "So last night when you told you me you loved me--"
"It was absolutely the truth," she replied. "I've known for awhile now that I've always loved you too. Only, it's different from what I felt for Ryan. But it doesn't make it any less valid or strong. It just took me awhile to realize it." she smiled as she kissed him again.
"You know, last night was the first time you've said those words to me though," he replied caressing her face tenderly and gazing into her dark eyes.
She smiled. "It figured it was about time," she grinned playfully.
He laughed. "Indeed," he replied. "God, I love you..."
His fingers ran through her hair as he pulled her even closer. With everything he felt, he kissed her, as the sun finally dipped below the horizon.
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