634. Other Reasons
Jael sat on the rock, listening to the stream as it flowed down the path. The last time he was here, Louis had broken his cheek, and now, a similar situation had occurred though he was the one who did the breaking this time.
He stared into space, unmoving. The past kept haunting him in a way he couldn't escape. He felt like he couldn't protect the things he had—not his parents and not Mauve. But at least one of them had survived.
He ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. He undid his ponytail and redid it. The hair was completely a nuisance but he knew he would have to cut it soon. It was too bad. He knew she liked it.
Jael was here to get away from his thoughts but they were still creeping up on him. He groaned and took a deep breath. The air had a slight chill to it. Not that he could feel it—at least not in a way that bothered him.