The naiad moved in shortly after Sid finished his house, that first summer, a week after he filled the pool. He noticed some splashing one morning while he was eating breakfast, and when he went outside to investigate, she popped her head up out of the water, clung to the side of the pool, and hissed at him. “Uh,” Sid said, still holding a slice of toast in one hand. Dew from the grass chilled his bare feet. “Are you—hi?”

Shadows are falling and I've been here all day It's too hot to sleep and time is running away Feel like my soul has turned into steel I've still got the scars that the sun didn't let me heal There's not even room enough to be anywhere It's not dark yet, but it's getting there - Bob Dylan

When it happened, Zhenya didn’t realize that it meant anything. Now, he had the distinct impression that he and Sid were in a fight — but could you even be in a fight with a coworker that you sometimes had sex with? Originally written for day 17 of Kinkuary 2022 (tentacles), but definitely not posted in time.