breaking-sea

When he__ woken that morning to find her gone, he__ used the time alone to clean himself up in every sense of the word. Decisions about his future had been part of it, but there'd been more, too. Because in all the time they__ known one another he__ been completely unconcerned with his appearance. Now, however, he wanted to show her the man he truly was. More than that, the man she__ helped him become: healed, strong, capable. No longer in the shadows, but bathed in light. No longer in need of saving or protecting or anything. Except her.