LOREN
Loren simply sighed, then shrugged at Zariah’s response to his initial comment. Instead, he moved on. ”Strong people can still be victims.” It came out quietly, barely above a whisper. Then he shook his head. ”You say you want to prevent suffering from befalling the family. But aren’t you hurting them yourself, in the name of making them stronger? How is that keeping them from suffering?” Again, his confusion was genuine.
This time, he let her finish. He flinched at her final words, and at the glimmers of sadness he saw in her. An apologetic expression crossed his face. ”I am sorry. For betraying your trust, and abandoning you all. For letting you think that.” His tone really was contrite, even though, or perhaps because, his voice was soft.
”But the training worked. Zariah. I got stronger. Without pain.” Then he bit his lip. ”I never despised you. Any of you. I loved you, too. I just wanted us all to get better, in my own way.” Now it was his turn for sorrow to grace his eyes.
When she rolled her eyes, though, his expression grew firm again. ”So there’s no threat that you know of? You’re just assuming the worst?” His tone held an idle curiosity, though his eyes were sharp.
As she snapped at him, though, his expression softened. ”I know I wasn’t an exception. But tell me, Zariah, how did it feel? How did it feel to be put through such treatment at the hands of your family? The ones who said they loved you?” His voice had gained a bit of an edge, though he still remained calm enough.
This time, he let her finish. He flinched at her final words, and at the glimmers of sadness he saw in her. An apologetic expression crossed his face. ”I am sorry. For betraying your trust, and abandoning you all. For letting you think that.” His tone really was contrite, even though, or perhaps because, his voice was soft.
”But the training worked. Zariah. I got stronger. Without pain.” Then he bit his lip. ”I never despised you. Any of you. I loved you, too. I just wanted us all to get better, in my own way.” Now it was his turn for sorrow to grace his eyes.
When she rolled her eyes, though, his expression grew firm again. ”So there’s no threat that you know of? You’re just assuming the worst?” His tone held an idle curiosity, though his eyes were sharp.
As she snapped at him, though, his expression softened. ”I know I wasn’t an exception. But tell me, Zariah, how did it feel? How did it feel to be put through such treatment at the hands of your family? The ones who said they loved you?” His voice had gained a bit of an edge, though he still remained calm enough.
But don’t be weary if it’s broken
Families are like that—
they’re split up and always torn.
