If I can stop one heart from breaking
If I can ease one life the aching
If I can ease one life the aching
Harper has beheld so many kinds of trauma that it's nearly habit by now to tuck his shoulders to make himself smaller, soften his voice and make his expression approachable. It's a relief when she wanders inside the doorway without him needing to fully coax her, and he closes the door softly behind her so as not to startle her any further. He is two seconds from removing his shoes or reaching for her bags when she bursts into tears, and all thoughts of making her comfortable first go out the window.
"Oh honey come here," he murmurs, and slowly wraps his arms around her so that she can pull away or keep her distance if she needs. If not, he lifts one hand to gently hold the back of her head, occasionally brushing through her golden hair and rocking them both subtly side to side as he shushes her. "It's okay. You're safe. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere." A gentle stream of assurances that fall endlessly from his lips, each as sincere as the last.
"Oh honey come here," he murmurs, and slowly wraps his arms around her so that she can pull away or keep her distance if she needs. If not, he lifts one hand to gently hold the back of her head, occasionally brushing through her golden hair and rocking them both subtly side to side as he shushes her. "It's okay. You're safe. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere." A gentle stream of assurances that fall endlessly from his lips, each as sincere as the last.
I shall not live in vain
HARPER
