Zavien
Her fingers traced soothing patterns over his back and arms, her words a gentle coaxing. He knew she was worried, knew this wasn't the response she wanted or deserved after such an open declaration. He wanted to reassure her, to revel in the overflowing love between them, but the words stuck in his chest, pain lancing as he thought about what they meant and the devastation they could cause.
At her quiet insistence, a soft admission bubbled to the surface. "The last woman I said those words to... the last woman I loved..." Zavien tensed his shoulders, wishing desperately that he could be rejoicing rather than digging up grief as he whispered the truth into the space by her shoulder, strands of hair sticking to his stubble.
"She ended up dead, and I can't - " he drew a shaky breath, struggling to get the words out. His shoulders rose then curved forward in his pleading grasp. "I can't bear the thought of losing someone I love again." Holding her tight enough that she could feel the cracking of his heart, Zavien shook his head like he could demand the world never take her from him. "I can't bear the thought of losing you."
At her quiet insistence, a soft admission bubbled to the surface. "The last woman I said those words to... the last woman I loved..." Zavien tensed his shoulders, wishing desperately that he could be rejoicing rather than digging up grief as he whispered the truth into the space by her shoulder, strands of hair sticking to his stubble.
"She ended up dead, and I can't - " he drew a shaky breath, struggling to get the words out. His shoulders rose then curved forward in his pleading grasp. "I can't bear the thought of losing someone I love again." Holding her tight enough that she could feel the cracking of his heart, Zavien shook his head like he could demand the world never take her from him. "I can't bear the thought of losing you."
If you don't like the road you're walking,
start paving another.
start paving another.
