Page 66 of Storm and Sea

“Nothing. What’s up?” Atreus asked, letting out a too-long breath as though he’d been too afraid to release it.

Leo didn’t bother to push. When Atreus wasn’t ready to talk about something, nothing Leo could do or say would get him to budge. The man could hold a secret.

“I, uh, just wanted to vent some stuff. It’s stupid, and you’re obviously busy.”

“No. No. Let’s sit. I could use a distraction,” Atreus said, plopping in the sand.

Leo joined him. “It’s really dumb.”

“But you’re going to tell me anyway.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I am.”

Atreus waited, ready to listen.

“Do you believe in, like, sea monsters?”

“Sea monsters?”

“Well, kinda.” Leo tried to piece together his memories and paint a cohesive picture. “Not like underwater dragons and shit, more like—sea people?”

“Mermaids?”

“I think?”

“Like the statue in the square?” Atreus offered.

“Not exactly, but kind of?”

Leo didn’t know what he expected from his friend, but watching Atreus drop his head in defeat wasn’t it.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just… man, I can’t catch a break.”

Leo didn’t know what he meant by that so he continued.

“When I got caught in that storm, and the Vino Rosso capsized, I was thrown into the water, and I… I think something saved me. Someone?”

Leo recounted the series of events exactly as he remembered them—or at least as he believed he remembered. At this point, he wasn’t sure what his mind was making up to fill the gaps. Then, he told Atreus about his dreams. “And well, that’s it. Stupid, I know.”

“It’s not stupid, but…” Atreus paused, carefully choosing his words. “You went through something and you’re trying to make sense of it.”

“I’m not making this up,” Leo pleaded.

“I never said you were. Your mind can play tricks on you. You’re still processing.”

Leo rubbed the stitches on his head. They were healing, thank god, but Leo didn’t think he’d ever get used to the tightness on his scalp.

“You’re stressed, Leo,” Atreus said. “Let this vision, or whatever it is, go. You’ve already got enough on your plate.”

“It’s hard to let go when it feels so real.”

“Real or not, it’s not doing you any good. I’m saying it’s a lot for you to handle right now.”

“And I’m handling it just fine,” Leo snapped. He groaned and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Sorry.”

“No need.”