“Well,” Malachi began, undeterred by her non-answer, “happiness is not always a clear path, I’ll give you that.”

Sometimes it was not even a visible path at all. He held her gaze for but a moment before he looked out across the rocks, and the cliffs above. With the hope that it would not disturb her too terribly, he moved to sit on one of the rocks near her, bringing himself closer (but not quite) to her level.

“What about that?”

Malachi nodded to her stomach. She must not have been too far along, or else she could have been malnourished, but he did not think it unreasonable to assume that she was indeed pregnant. Even so, Malachi was not under the impression that it had to be under joyous circumstances – hence the question.

“Does the thought of having a child make you happy?”