LOREN
As Maea collapsed down onto Loren, he barely reacted. Instead, he just stared sightlessly up at the still brightening sky. Occasional blinks and the rise and fall of his chest were the only indication that he'd actually survived. As she began to cry, however, he shifted a little. Twisting his wrists to break free of her hold, he lowered them slightly.
Then he wrapped them around her and just held her gently. "I'm sorry." It came out in a raw whisper, more breath than anything else. "I'm just so lost." He squeezed his own eyes shut, but it wasn't enough to stop his own silent tears from falling. Unlike her, his were only apparent in the tracks of water they left on his cheeks, since he'd long ago learned that crying openly and being seen and heard would result in further punishments.
Then he wrapped them around her and just held her gently. "I'm sorry." It came out in a raw whisper, more breath than anything else. "I'm just so lost." He squeezed his own eyes shut, but it wasn't enough to stop his own silent tears from falling. Unlike her, his were only apparent in the tracks of water they left on his cheeks, since he'd long ago learned that crying openly and being seen and heard would result in further punishments.
But don’t be weary if it’s broken
Families are like that—
they’re split up and always torn.
