Max's voice also betrayed some humor as he replied, "Can't really blame them. Even I thought you were Alex back from the dead when I saw you with your new haircut."
Alina's face twisted with horror and guilt as she said, "I'm so sorry about that Max. I didn't think you would react that way." She shook her head as she continued, "Actually, i don't think I had been thinking much."
Max shook his head as he settled even more comfortably in Alina's arms. "It's okay." he said, "It kind of helped me come to terms with it I guess. It hadn't seemed real before that, like Alex was in the next room, just out of sight. But seeing you like that . . . ." he shrugged as he completed his sentence. "It made me realise he really was gone."
Alina sunk into thought as she also thought about it. He really was gone. He was actually, truly gone. Just like her mother, and her father. "Can I ask you something?" Max's words cut into Alina's thoughts.
Alina: "Sure."
Max: "Why did you chop it all off though?"
Alina replied after a few seconds, letting out a sigh, "I'm not too sure. I had been thinking about how I was left all alone in the world, kind of like how I felt after mom died. And then you came through the front door, reminding me that I still had family left in this world." Max's heart warmed at the thought. All along, he had also been thinking how he was left all alone in the world. But hearing Alina reminded him that he actually wasn't alone. There had been someone who had loved Alex as much as him, even more, if that was possible. And she was still with him, a reminder that love grew the more you gave it away.
"Anyways, I had been quite tempted to run away and start my life anew in some other small village. Kindly of like a revenge upon Alex." Alina continued, and Max was surprised at her words. 'We all have our way of coping I assume.' he thought while Alina continued talking, "But then you came in, looking like you had no idea how life was supposed to go on now. And then I realised I couldn't run away. Not only because I had promised Alex. . . . But also because I couldn't abandon the only family I have left. So I went and cut my hair, so that I wouldn't be tempted anymore."
The confession from Alina's side had been so heavy that Max had no idea how to react. He had realised that Alina still didn't want to give up her simple life, and that made him a bit apprehensive. But he couldn't stop a warm feeling spreading through his chest upon hearing that he was part of the reason Alina had stayed. Not many people in the world would do that for him. And Max was truly grateful.
Max didn't give any response, and Alina hadn't required one. The two settled even more comfortably on the sofa, Max shifting so that Alina was also in a comfortable position and Alina wrapped her hands tighter to him.
After a silence of a few minutes, in which Alina's arms loosened around Max, he spoke lightly, "Say Alina, what do you say to moving out?"