"That was uncalled for," I said.
"Why? Because it's not true or you just don't want to admit that it IS true?" Jack said.
"Do you think it's true?" I asked.
There was a long pause while he clearly considered his answer. I turned my head, looking out the car window at the dark, foggy beach. Mist swirled up from the nearly still water like disco wraiths. The sky looked like a fortune teller's ball, lit up from within by the hidden moon.
Unwilling to wait any longer for his answer, I opened the door and stepped out of the car. I unstrapped my sandals and walked out onto the sand. On the surface, it was cool and crisp. I paused, wiggling my toes down below the veneer. The sand here was still moist from the tide hours before. This inside sand was warm. I imagined that Jack was warm under his skin, too.
I walked to the edge of the sand and the sea. My feet were touching earth, water, and sky. All it needed was the fire. I sat, and lay back on the beach. My feet submerged, my head dry. I thought I could lay here until the tide returned. Maybe I would drift out to sea, coming to rest on some far off island where the fire lived.
"I'm sorry I said it. It's not true," I heard from above.
I tipped my head back to look up at Jack, and held out my icy hand to him.
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