Love mends even the broken parts
Biting his lip, he shifted so he was facing Astra and Maea. "Doesn't it?" Moving into a cross-legged position, he rubbed his palms against his thighs. "I wish I could see that as enough. But there's this tiny voice in my head that says it isn't. And another one that says not to trust this." He gave her an apologetic smile. "I know they're wrong. I just don't know how to stop listening to them." Voice soft, he stared at her almost imploringly, as if hoping she had the answer to the question he didn't know how to ask.
Letting out a huff of laughter, he shook his head. "I'm not sure I've ever been alright. There's always been...something." Looking away, he found himself studying the shadow of a cloud as it passed over the sun. "And giving into my grief when I was growing up would just result in more torture. It was seen as yet another sign of my weakness." The words were hard to speak, and he had to swallow after them, mouth suddenly dry.
Letting out a huff of laughter, he shook his head. "I'm not sure I've ever been alright. There's always been...something." Looking away, he found himself studying the shadow of a cloud as it passed over the sun. "And giving into my grief when I was growing up would just result in more torture. It was seen as yet another sign of my weakness." The words were hard to speak, and he had to swallow after them, mouth suddenly dry.
loren
