Lucy by the Sea

As time passes, Lucy settles into their life further, but the only person she seems to feel okay with is Bob. William is distant, and she is starting to lose memories of David. She wants to see her daughters again. She wonders why they haven’t come to visit since they have had the virus and have been protesting. William has found interesting work helping a local potato farmer figure out his parasite problem. Lucy has nothing like that, and is lonely.

Driving home one night through a quiet neighborhood, Lucy realizes that her childhood was spent in lockdown. Her family lived in terrible poverty and her parents’ mental health conditions, as well as her mother’s abuse, were isolating. That night, she has a panic attack and goes outside to get control of herself. When she comes back in, she tells William she is homesick, but has no home to go back to.

William holds her as she cries. They have sex, and afterward, sleep together every night. They talk about telling their daughters about their rekindled relationship, but decide to wait until they are ready—it feels too private right now. They are enjoying their intimacy and the comfort it offers.