NOE
You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
Part of her had assumed that Jude would want her to go, too. Poor kid looked like he was about to break down, and if it were Noe, she wasn't sure she'd want any witnesses. But to her surprise, Jude's request for her to stay rushed out between harsh breaths, and she let him tug her into the apartment.
The only problem with her staying was that she wasn't sure what to do next. She wasn't particularly practiced at being nurturing - being the youngest child in a loving family meant that she hadn't had to do much of that for others - but it was clear that Jude needed something. It was obvious in the way he leaned against the door to close it and stayed there, as though the door was all that was holding him together.
So Noe reached out to take Jude's hand, her movements slow and deliberate, as though he might startle if she moved too quickly. "Hey," she said softly, leaning to peer into his face, trying to catch his eye. "You did good. She's gone now. It's gonna be okay." Was it? Noe wasn't sure, really - but surely any life without Sohalia in it would be an improvement for Jude, now that he knew just what she was capable of? "Breathe with me, okay? In... out..."
The only problem with her staying was that she wasn't sure what to do next. She wasn't particularly practiced at being nurturing - being the youngest child in a loving family meant that she hadn't had to do much of that for others - but it was clear that Jude needed something. It was obvious in the way he leaned against the door to close it and stayed there, as though the door was all that was holding him together.
So Noe reached out to take Jude's hand, her movements slow and deliberate, as though he might startle if she moved too quickly. "Hey," she said softly, leaning to peer into his face, trying to catch his eye. "You did good. She's gone now. It's gonna be okay." Was it? Noe wasn't sure, really - but surely any life without Sohalia in it would be an improvement for Jude, now that he knew just what she was capable of? "Breathe with me, okay? In... out..."
The slowest way is never loving them enough
