half of my heart's got a grip on the situation

How deeply are you sleeping or are you still awake?
A good friend told me you've been staying out so late

Soh's words coaxed a small, sad smile from Koa, and her heart twisted painfully in her chest because she knew before he even spoke that things were not going to go their way. His fingers brushed against her ear as he tucked an errant hair away, and she might have reached up to capture his hand, to press it against her cheek, to hold him there while she told him that she loved him, over and over until it became a mantra that would carry them through anything and everything that sought to tear them apart.

But he pulled away, taking a piece of her heart with him, and she sat, half-twisted towards him on the bench, her hands in her own lap, fiddling with the hem of her skirt. He was quiet for a while - and she let him think, because what more was there for her to say, at least until he offered something for which she could think up a counter-argument.

And when he spoke, she listened - really, truly listened - and tried to think of any way to reassure him because if he wanted it and she wanted it, and if they just worked at it hard enough, then surely, surely they could make it work. She had to believe that, even if he couldn't right now. Even if it all felt like too much.

"I know," she said, her voice thick with emotion because gods if she could take this burden from him, she would. "I know it's a lot. And if I could take back my part in that, I would. But, Koa, we have a chance. A good chance, to be something wonderful. We can try and see how amazing we could be... or we could give up and never even give it a chance." She paused, searching his face. "I know which option I'd regret more." Do you?

Be careful, oh, my darling, oh, be careful what it takes
From what I've seen so far, the good ones always seem to break

Sohalia