#to my americans doing thanksgiving

Day 4 of @the-line-is-erased: Prague - Family - Those we stay with and those we choose to leave. 

Sasha wasn’t a hugger.  But as Zolf said he was leaving,  she had to hug him, as if she could hold onto him and keep him from going.

“Do you have to?” She asked into his collar as they embraced, hating how weak she sounded.

“I need to figure some things out. And I’m no good to any of you in this state.”

Sasha squeezed him a little tighter.  “You’ve always been good to me, though.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “But you’ll be alright.  And this doesn’t have to be goodbye.  I’m just taking a break to sort out myself and my faith after all that Mr. Ceiling nonsense.  I’ll see you all again."  He paused.  "Maybe it’s better I don’t see Bertie again.  Just you and Hamid.”

“I’d like that.”

They pulled apart slowly, neither wanting to relinquish their grip on the other because that would make their parting real and not just some nightmare they could abandon upon waking.  

“Hey, take this."  Zolf removed the driftwood dolphin from around his neck and held it out for Sasha.  "To remember me, until we see each other again.”

“But isn’t it important to your whole Poseidon thing?”

“Poseidon can sod off.  I don’t know what I believe anymore, but I do know that I’d rather you have it.  Mad as I am at the concept of divinity right now, it still meant a lot to me, and you mean a lot to me too, so…"  His voice trailed off and he looked away from Sasha, though he still held the pendant in an outstretched hand. 

"If you’re sure,” she said.

Zolf nodded, and Sasha gingerly took the dolphin from him.  She ran her fingers over the smooth wooden surface, then looked back over at Zolf. 

“See you around, then, boss?”

“I’m not your boss anymore.”

“That’s not the point.”

Zolf smiled.  “I know.”

~~~

Some time in the past, Sasha sat on the roof of the villa, her feet dangling over the edge.  As she watched the sun descend, she took a driftwood dolphin, unmarred by time, out of her pocket and traced the wood grains with her fingers.  One day in the future, a good friend would give the pendant to her and promise that their parting wasn’t goodbye.  And though Sasha would have to wait multiple centuries, she looked forward to the day she would get to see him again.