Earl sat along the sides of a rock that came into contact with the cold, swooshing waters from the sea it stood by. The trauma that ran through the stone also vibrated through Earl’s thinning body.

Unable to think straight of anything else, his thoughts were on Thomas. He pondered and pondered about his beloved man for what seemed like a century since he came to this ocean

Thomas probably jumped into that ocean, engulfed in pure hatred.

Earl thought this to himself.

The young man un-leaned himself from the large boulder and climbed on top it, on top of the cold hard surface that felt like the true world.

Looking down from his short natural tower, Earl peered into the water beneath. The tide was rising. He wondered if the tears in the ocean were his own.

“Yes, they must be. They are my own. What other space would have been capable of holding that sorry that pours from me? It would be none other than the ocean floor.”

A cold wave splashed against the rock once again. But the tide was high and a drop of the clear liquid landed on his forehead. It stopped at his left cheek. Taking his index finger, he slowly lifted it off his facial skin and put it into his mouth.

It tasted salty, like the taste of cheeks wet from mourning.

I must face my tears. One day, I might be able to. Tears make you feel good. After they burst from you, you feel relieved.

Thinking that, he peered down at the water that remained splashing.

I wish my tears would do the same for me. If it could change who I am, would it be worth it? Would I be free from this curse of a personality?

His thoughts were overwhelming. The water splashed more and more as droplets touched his face. He turned himself around and looked up at the trees that soured behind him. Trees are hard. They give you splinters, even though they provide you with shelter.

Was I like a tree to Thomas?

I gave him shelter and yet I hurt him, splintering him. What would it take to get away from my wooden self?

With that, Earl watched the trees fall beneath his view. His lungs filled with his tears and his nostrils stung.

He watched as Thomas appeared, shocked and reaching forth with his hand, behind a curtain of rippling glass.