no subject

[They hadn't realized how afraid they were that Red was gone until they see him again - it had been easy to figure out they had disappeared and come back with the sudden dunk in the water, the way their body had been changed again. They had hoped, in a way that feels selfish, that Red Wine was still there. They... Could have managed without him, they think, but seeing him and hearing him say their name...]

Red...

[They don't know what to say, what to do, and they twist their hands in the hem of their sweater. They can feel their eyes stinging, and they blink their eyes rapidly to try to keep the tears from falling.]

Ah, sorry, I just...

[They pause, before offering Red a small, unsure smile.]

I'm sorry. But I'm... I'm back.

[And hopefully longer, they don't say, finding the words getting caught in their throat.]