Lost

Chap 5: First Walk

⚠ There is mention of homophobia. ⚠

3rd Person Pov:

After having their lunch, they had met in Katie yard and had decided to go out for a walk without any destination in mind. The neighbourhood was not a busy one so there were no prying eyes and for Katie it wouldn't matter as she didn't stay there.

The path they choose to take happen to take them toward a lake. A place they both individually liked and hoped the other did too. All the way they barely said a word but neither complained the silence, rather enjoyed it. Even though they wondered if the other found it awkward.

For Mark, he was glad that she didn't question or push him in any way to open up. He wasn't one to open up easily. Although, asking her for a walk was out of character for him. But somehow with her, he could be confident enough. To him, it was something about the air Katie had that allowed him to say it. And he was proud and happy that he did.

For Katie who didn't  talk much, having found someone who appreciates silence was great. She was surprised when he asked her to accompany him for the walk but she agreed because she didn't want to lose the opportunity to make one friend. And to her joy, he happened to be someone who enjoys and appreciates silence and doesn't feel the compulsive need to talk.

Upon reaching the lake they picked a beach and sat enjoying. Katie had closed her eyes and with a tilted head felt the gentle cold breeze the brushed her open hair. It made her shiver but she loved it. She had a smile on her face and Mark took notice of that.

Unintentionally, he happened to observe her intently. How the wind's stocking her hair caused her to smile even though it caused her to visible shiver. When he realized what he was doing he suddenly averted his gaze but still looked at her sidewise to see when she opens her eyes. After a while when she finally opened her eyes, he said, "You like winter, don't you."

She simple answered, without looking at him, "It's the best. How did you figure it out?"

"Last night you enjoyed looking at the sky with the same smile and though it was a little chilly, you didn't have any warm clothes on. Now even with the options of putting up your collar, you choose to let it hit you and even make you shiver. My conclusion, either you want to get sick or you like cold. "

" You're right. I always liked winter. The breeze, open clear sky, the Moon... They just calm me. Even though most of my winters are spend in a place I don't like, I try to enjoy it as much as I can. "

She hadn't realized that some of her words were a little sharp for him. And he didn't know that there was much more than that. "If you don't mind me ask, why don't you like it here?"

"Didn't I tell you? We come to visit your family who are basically strangers to me."

"Yes. But why? Why don't you try to establish relationship with them?"

She shrugged and said, "I don't think they are worth all that time and effort. They don't even accept their own kid just because they are not as per their likings. I personally don't want to be associated with people who don't respect  others."

"How so?"

Sighing loudly, she replied "They are homophobic. My cousin, Stephanie, is transgender and they don't like it. They don't know it but my parents helped her during the operation. Although she is entirely independent now, she wasn't so stable when she did it. And all that time, and even now sometimes, she stays with us. "

"But they accept you parents who helped her change?"

"Sheph didn't want my parents' relation with their brothers and sisters to get foul for her so she made us promise that we won't tell them that we helped her. But we don't hide that fact that we support her." All the while she wasnt looking at him but then she looked at him straight in the eye when she asked: "What is your stand on the matter?"

Slightly taken aback from the sudden change in demeanour, he quickly recovered realizing the gravity of the topic. He looked out at the horizon and said, "I dont know your family situation entirely still so I can't exactly pass a judgement on your family people but I stand firmly with your cousin. I don't think anyone has the right to judge another's sexuality no matter who they are. It's individual's choice and best understanding of themselves and lead to such decisions and another person no mater how close cannot decide it."

A satisfied genlte smile came on her lips  that stayed there all the time they were there, enjoying each other's company.