“Tell me what’s wrong, River. Please, I’m begging you; just tell me what’s wrong.”

“No. Adam’s in the next room, and he doesn’t trust me. I mean, he and I used to be tight, but now we’re... well, we’re not.” River had been transferred to the settee in the living room.

I am now exceedingly worried about my sullen lover. “River, I know what happened. I was there, remember? Adam’s just having problems with his relationship with Marie, so of course he’s going to get pissed about you blaming the whole Aiden incident on him.”

As if on cue, Adam bursts out from the room next door. “Look, Marie, I care about you. I honestly do. I care about you, and I’m always there to stick up for you when the bullies at school pick on you. You think you could have been there for me and stuck up for me when River picked on me? It’s the same situation, Marie; the same situation!”

I hear Marie next. “Nice soliloquy, Adam! You think you could be a little less irksome and a little more affectionate towards your girlfriend!? Oh, wait I forgot something.”

“What’s that?”

“I forgot the ex!”

“If you think you can just walk away from our relationship like that then go ahead!” Next I hear a sound akin to flesh hitting flesh. Adam must have slapped Marie across the face; at least it wasn’t a full-blown beating.

Next, I hear the door slamming, and Marie running down the hall to my uncle’s study. I hear her voice, shattered and choppy, coming from the room, followed by mu uncle’s charismatic intonation. “Lazarus, s-sir, I need you t-to talk to A-Adam for me.”

“Marie, is it? Tell me what’s wrong, child.”

“Adam’s just... he’s just been so mean to me these past few weeks.”

“Oh, my dear child, one side of your face is red as a beet! What happened?”

Marie starts to cry. She’s so defenceless when it comes to fighting with Adam; he is, after all, the three-time champ of the Inter-Realm Bear-Wrestling Challenge, which is held every November.

Moments later, as if Marie had called his name, Adam rushes into the study. I hear his voice, clear and calm, not rushed and angry as it was before. “Marie, sweetheart, please forgive me.” I walk into the study, expecting to see Adam on his knees, begging for mercy. Instead I see him crouched on the floor, arms wrapped around Marie’s legs, his face buried in her long, flowing skirt, with Marie staring down at him with an expression of thought- at least I think that’s what it is, knowing Marie- on her face.

The next surprising event is that Marie- who is supposed to be angry with Adam- takes the same position as her sullen boyfriend. Although they are talking in hushed tones, I manage to make out the words. “I am so sorry, Marie.” Adam rests his head on Marie’s shoulder. I can sense tears streaming down his face (tears are liquid, so people from the Water realm can sense when others are either about to cry or are crying).

“That really hurt, you know. Did you think about how it might have made me feel before you did it?”

“No.” Sniffle.

“Alright Adam; put yourself in my shoes for a moment.”

“I don’t think I’d be able to fit into your tiny shoes.” At this point, he’s stopped crying.

Marie sighs with amusement as a smile crosses her lips. “You know what I meant. Tell me everything you think went through my head as soon as your hand made contact with my face.”

“What’s going on? Why is he doing this? What did I ever do to deserve this?”

“Good. Now tell me how you feel about it.”

“I feel... I feel bad about hurting you. But you know I can’t control my outbursts. They just come to me at the weirdest-” Marie’s lips connect with Adam’s before he has a chance to finish his sentence. When she pulls away, he smiles. “I know” she says.

After witnessing that event I go back to the bedroom I share with River, which currently serves as a guest room for the other 3 boys. River is waiting there for me. “Hey, Violet!”

“Hi. What are you doing here?”

He seems taken aback by my question. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Yes. You didn’t tell me what was wrong.”

“I told you Adam doesn’t like me, Violet.”

“I know that, but I’m sure if you go ask him for absolution, he will be willing to give it."