If I can stop one heart from breaking
If I can ease one life the aching
If I can ease one life the aching
Her bag is readily ignored in favor of tending to her instead, rhythmically stroking her hair and leaning his cheek against her crown to mimic a similar feeling of being swaddled. Safe, encompassed, held close and protected in his arms. He continues to rock her side to side, subtle little motions that accompany the steady beating of his heart beneath her ear. When she finally emerges - words choppy and straying - Harper gently loosens his hold but does not drop his arms entirely.
"Of course you can stay," he interjects gently, putting a swift end to her worries. "You are always welcome here. Whether Jude is here or not, whether you need a single night or an entire season. Okay?" He smiles down at her, tender and encouraging. Proud of her for opening up so readily with her emotions even if she had yet to reveal the cause of her distress. It was a promising thing to see from a psychological stance.
"Come on, come sit down." Gently guiding her with his hands to the couch a few steps away, Harper urges her down onto the cushion and immediately drapes the blanket on the back around her shoulders before kneeling in front of her to begin taking off her shoes. "First of all, I'm going to ask you a few really simple questions. Just yes or no, okay?" Something easy and grounding for her to focus on and settle her mind. "Have you eaten or had anything to drink today?" Because, distressed as she is, Harper doesn't trust her begging off food or water if her stomach is unsettled.
"Of course you can stay," he interjects gently, putting a swift end to her worries. "You are always welcome here. Whether Jude is here or not, whether you need a single night or an entire season. Okay?" He smiles down at her, tender and encouraging. Proud of her for opening up so readily with her emotions even if she had yet to reveal the cause of her distress. It was a promising thing to see from a psychological stance.
"Come on, come sit down." Gently guiding her with his hands to the couch a few steps away, Harper urges her down onto the cushion and immediately drapes the blanket on the back around her shoulders before kneeling in front of her to begin taking off her shoes. "First of all, I'm going to ask you a few really simple questions. Just yes or no, okay?" Something easy and grounding for her to focus on and settle her mind. "Have you eaten or had anything to drink today?" Because, distressed as she is, Harper doesn't trust her begging off food or water if her stomach is unsettled.
I shall not live in vain
HARPER
