NOAH
"I'm okay." He half-lied to Liam, keeping the smile plastered on his face as Maea greeted in turn. Noah gave Maea a faint nod, mirroring her sentiments. It was good to see her, see them, and that wasn't a half truth. “Not yet,” he said, swirling his drink twice before taking another sip.
He glanced toward the long tables where plates were stacked high, the scent of roasted vegetables and warm pastries lingering in the air despite the heaviness of sea salt on the tongue. People gathered there in clusters, laughing, brushing shoulders. He had not a clue of any dramatics among the guests, even as his eyes scanned them, the food, and then bounced back to the ancient and accepted.
It should have been comforting. Instead, it pressed in on him. It was too warm, too full of everything he’d lost, and he felt sweat bead on his neck. Cordelia would have taken his hand, teased him into trying something new. He swirled his glass again. The ice was nearly melted.
“Do you want to come?” he asked after a beat, looking between Maea and Liam. His voice was low but steady, like it cost him something to admit. “Could use the company.” Because everyone else had their ghosts, or their hands laced in the warm embrace of their living partner--except him.
His smile cracked some as he waited for their answer, his weight shifting. He knew, as he stood with them, that he still had ties even if one of the strongest had been severed. He held his breath and turned as if he were going to walk towards the food tables, but waited for his friends.
And he saw her, standing like a small twinkling star beneathHadama's shadow, and his breath hitched again. It was good to see Seren, but he couldn't help the lump that clung to his voicebox as he did so.
He glanced toward the long tables where plates were stacked high, the scent of roasted vegetables and warm pastries lingering in the air despite the heaviness of sea salt on the tongue. People gathered there in clusters, laughing, brushing shoulders. He had not a clue of any dramatics among the guests, even as his eyes scanned them, the food, and then bounced back to the ancient and accepted.
It should have been comforting. Instead, it pressed in on him. It was too warm, too full of everything he’d lost, and he felt sweat bead on his neck. Cordelia would have taken his hand, teased him into trying something new. He swirled his glass again. The ice was nearly melted.
“Do you want to come?” he asked after a beat, looking between Maea and Liam. His voice was low but steady, like it cost him something to admit. “Could use the company.” Because everyone else had their ghosts, or their hands laced in the warm embrace of their living partner--except him.
His smile cracked some as he waited for their answer, his weight shifting. He knew, as he stood with them, that he still had ties even if one of the strongest had been severed. He held his breath and turned as if he were going to walk towards the food tables, but waited for his friends.
And he saw her, standing like a small twinkling star beneath
I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm
Don't worry I'll keep you warm
Don't worry I'll keep you warm
