i almost didn't say it at all, that's the truth of it, the words were caught in my throat like i was still trying to protect someone, someone who doesn't even exist anymore, and then the sound of the waves just kept pulling, pulling, pulling like they knew i was full of secrets, and the stranger just… waited. and the words came, not because i wanted them to but because they were tired of waiting too, maybe, tired of being somebody else's secret. what a strange thing to suddenly become real. so much not said, so much almost unsaid.