Zavien
Zavien didn't need to look at Sohalia to feel her presence. She steadied him in the flood of emotions, reassuring without saying a word, silently supporting him through the moment without making him feel guilty for having these feelings. Any of the guilt he'd ever felt had never stemmed from Soh's reactions, and even now, she gave him space without leaving, staying present without shying away from the darker parts of him.
He wasn't sure how he'd handle this grief without her here. Despite the months that had passed, the environment made it all feel like it had happened yesterday, it amplified everything, and if Soh wasn't here to hold him together, Zavien didn't want to think about what that would look like.
Squeezing her hand again, he released it so he could lift his lanterns into the tree, placing them with care onto their own individual branches of honor. If Soh needed help with hers, he assisted, then he stepped back, resting an arm around her shoulders to pull her close to his side as he looked up at the collection of mourning lanterns, giving them a few heartbeats of silence before he whispered, "Thank you. For being here with me."
He wasn't sure how he'd handle this grief without her here. Despite the months that had passed, the environment made it all feel like it had happened yesterday, it amplified everything, and if Soh wasn't here to hold him together, Zavien didn't want to think about what that would look like.
Squeezing her hand again, he released it so he could lift his lanterns into the tree, placing them with care onto their own individual branches of honor. If Soh needed help with hers, he assisted, then he stepped back, resting an arm around her shoulders to pull her close to his side as he looked up at the collection of mourning lanterns, giving them a few heartbeats of silence before he whispered, "Thank you. For being here with me."
We wear our scars as proof
that we are still alive.
