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 could feel her heart shattering, but it was a slow break - piece by piece falling away to litter the ground around her, making it impossible to even move without making a deeper cut. This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go. They were supposed to show up, with their flowers, and it was supposed to be happy and joyful and exciting and new; this had never been a part of her imaginings - a scenario in which he wanted to try but wasn't brave enough to take the leap.

But perhaps that wasn't fair. He said he didn't know if he was ready, and that wasn't the same as saying no.

So as Koa pressed the flower into her palm, Soh reached out to grasp his hand in both of hers. "If you're not ready, I'll wait," she said, passion tinged with a hint of desperation. "I can wait as long as you need. Just don't do this, Koa. Don't say no right now. If it's a few days, a month, a year - Koa, I love -"

A pop. A crinkle of static. A voice in their minds, reading a poem to Noe.

Vox.

Horrified, Sohalia's grip tightened on Koa as she stared at him, her face suddenly paler than usual. It was one thing to know that Noe was infected, but to hear that she was so favored by one of the Family... her blood ran cold at the thought. And if that was her reaction, then Koa...

And suddenly their romantic problems seemed less pressing, somehow. It was time for Soh to focus on her quest. If she could get a rose, she could cure Noe, and if she could cure Noe, then surely Koa would see how serious she was.

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