dalimari + open up;
There’s a story to Marika that Dalia has yet to hear, but perhaps that’s alright. It’s enough that her voice finally reached Marika, and she decided to come to her side by herself.
Marika is soaking from head to toe, but that doesn’t stop Dalia from pulling Marika into her embrace. “I’m so glad,” Dalia says as she holds Marika close. She’s holding on to her so tight that it makes Marika wonder if she could be destroyed in Dalia’s embrace. “I’m so glad that you decided to open up to me.”
Dalia’s embrace is warm. Even when she could feel the damp cloth sticking to her skin, Dalia’s embrace melted all her worries away. Before long, Marika finds tears starting to well up in her eyes.
It’s rare for Dalia to show such strong emotions. Dalia has always been calm, if not the calmest member in Merm4id, and seeing how she got worked up and so worried over her well-being sent shivers down her spine, causing butterflies in her stomach to flutter. But right now, with Dalia holding her tight, Marika wonders if she should’ve done this earlier. Should’ve torn down her masks and opened up sooner. Shouldn’t have pretended that she’s okay.
“I’m here, Marika, I’m here,” Dalia says softly.
And when Marika holds Dalia back, slowly and carefully, Dalia knows that this is what both of them needed. It feels like completing a jigsaw puzzle that’s been missing a piece all along.
Marika’s body fits perfectly in her arms, and Dalia feels complete.