The Mask: Burdens and Reputations

Lucky

She still couldn't believe it.

Probably wouldn't for a while.

Somehow...

In some way...

Her family had survived.

Survived!

All of them.

Deez.

Gil.

T.

She sighs as she looks around the darkened room, for now ignoring the occasional flares of green lighting up the window behind the drawn curtains.

She'd thought for sure-

Deez and Gil-

Her throat tightens painfully.

She shakes her head, banishing the thought before she could react to it.

They were here.

They'd survived.

But the thought persisted, taunted her.

She'd woken up, terrified the reunion had been a dream the night before.

Just her mind playing yet another cruel joke on her.

But, here they were.

Her gaze travels to the shadows where she knew Harry was holding T in a hammock.

All of them.

Her Sweet Boy and Baby Girl were still wrapped tightly around her.

Deez's soothing warmth.

Gil's strength.

The two of them shielding her from her nightmares.

Surrounding her, keeping her safe.

They were so lucky.

So very, very lucky.

After everything.

The storm.

The waves.

The fucking mutiny.

Somehow they'd managed to come out of it mostly unscathed.

And yeah, there had been injuries-

But not ones that couldn't be mended; couldn't be overcome.

Lucky.

The word just kept ringing in her head like a mantra.

There were so many that had returned empty-handed.

Were still returning with hollowed looks in their eyes.

Her heart ached for them.

She'd been there.

She and Harry had also come back empty-handed and hollow.

But then-

She presses a hand to her chest and the strange pain before it could make a sound.

They were just so lucky.

Lucky to be reunited.

Lucky to be alive.

She still wasn't sure how-

Her eyes sweep over Gil and Deez.

She couldn't stop watching them, captivated just by their breathing.

Captivated by all the small things she'd convinced herself she'd never get to have again.

Small innocent smiles in sleep.