i hate dreaming of being alone

AmaLIa

shield of safrin

Zuriel's slight greeting is at least something; the Shield has never really been sure if the unicorn likes her at all. She watches Deimos retreat inside, accompanied by Jyoti and followed by Zuriel, the baker bringing up the rear. She closes the front door gently behind her, listening to the latch click closed. The outside world sealed firmly on the other side.

Now there is only them.

When she turns back Zuriel is settled before the empty fireplace, and Deimos is leaning on the table, and Amalia is not sure where to go. She hovers a moment before finding a nearby wall, pressing hip and shoulder against it and letting her body slump. The comment on not knowing where to begin nearly earns a fresh spark of ire; instead she swallows, shaking her head, similarly at a loss. "The people I've lost... You know about them. My mother and grandmother, and the friends, and Adam..."

She trails off, her dark eyes drifting to the empty hearth. Each loss still hurts, embers in her throat. Running a hand anxiously through her hair, the Shield licks her lips. "I feel so guilty every time. Like I should have done more. Or gone in their place." Again she glances up at Deimos, a silent do you understand? in her eyes.

you can't choose what stays
and what fades away