If I can stop one heart from breaking
If I can ease one life the aching
If I can ease one life the aching
He can't do anything to ease her mind aside from come clean at this point. And hold tight when her anxiety spikes, scarred hands enveloping her own to keep her seated before him. He can't choke out a comfort for her, not when the words he's planning to say are shoving all others to the back of the line. The moments tick on at a snail's pace, and his shoulders tighten with each one, unnaturally still. Just as he had been in similar moments early in life, kneeling before his trainers, shirtless and awaiting the lash of their punishment. She holds so much more power than they ever did. Wielding a pain so much worse than the splitting of flesh.
Her hands are soft on his face, and his fingers fall away from her wrists helplessly, allowing her to do as she wished. Reluctantly he looks up at her, and though her blooming smile is reason to hope, they're both out on a limb here. "I know you have a lot of trauma surrounding the idea, and I won't be hurt if you say no," he whispers. "But...yes. We'd have to figure some things out - I'm no traditionalist, but I'd like to be sworn together in lieu of marriage somehow - but I really, really want to be a dad." His eyes are a little wet, scared to be so vulnerable, but the corners of his mouth tremble into a tiny smile. Hands lifting to cover hers where they cradle his cheeks. "And I want you to be their mom."
Her hands are soft on his face, and his fingers fall away from her wrists helplessly, allowing her to do as she wished. Reluctantly he looks up at her, and though her blooming smile is reason to hope, they're both out on a limb here. "I know you have a lot of trauma surrounding the idea, and I won't be hurt if you say no," he whispers. "But...yes. We'd have to figure some things out - I'm no traditionalist, but I'd like to be sworn together in lieu of marriage somehow - but I really, really want to be a dad." His eyes are a little wet, scared to be so vulnerable, but the corners of his mouth tremble into a tiny smile. Hands lifting to cover hers where they cradle his cheeks. "And I want you to be their mom."
I shall not live in vain
HARPER
