Come back? And leave Sky here alone? Especially so close to Christmas?
No, that's just not possible. At the same time, I want to support Jakob. We've been through so much together; how could I abandon him now?
"I'll see what I can do," I reply, trying to somehow extricate myself from this dilemma. At that moment, the conflict within me widens into a chasm. Once again, I realize I've gotten too close to Sky in recent weeks. I should have maintained professional distance.
"I'm worried about you," I hear Jakob say with concern. "Is everything alright?"
No. Nothing is alright. But I can't bring myself to say it, so I remain silent.
"The girl is getting to you. Don't let her get close to you, do you hear me? I don't want her to hurt you." Jakob's voice echoes within me.
Part of me knows he's right. Another part doesn't want to believe that Sky could ever be capable of that.
The hard ice covering the dune grass, into which I'm pressing my fingernail, gives way with a crack. A white fissure appears in the crystal-clear casing. It's broken.
What if Sky one day breaks me too? By revealing that the Sky from the past is the real Sky.
And what if I break her with the pressure and the questions? And with what I'm keeping from her.
The idea weighs so heavily on my chest that I instantly can't breathe.
"Take care of yourself," Jakob says.
"I'm doing the best I can," I reply and say goodbye.
Then I turn around and look back at the house. The glass front reflects a bit, but I see Sky still sitting at her desk, unchanged.
"What are you doing to me?" I ask so softly that I can barely hear my own words. "And what am I doing to you?"
