The fact that he understood, that he was willing to share his experience with her in such a vulnerable way - it wasn't lost on Soh, no matter how deeply she felt she'd been dragged under by her own emotions. It was, in fact, his profound understanding of what she was doing through that anchored her, allowing her to weather the storm. As she sobbed, focusing on the tether that was his love for her, she turned her head to press her cheek against his chest, finding solace in the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Her loss was something that even she struggled to put words to; it was something that she couldn't quite name. She just knew that there was who she had been before - bright, trusting, kind, willing to believe the best of people - and there was who she felt she was now: dark, isolated, betrayed by her own kindness. Perhaps it wasn't even the man she was so angry with. Perhaps it was herself. That her own trust in others could betray her so brutally... that was the metaphorical pill that was so hard to swallow.
How could she believe in the goodness of the world when she'd seen that such darkness existed in it?
But as she listened, her sobs began to slow to heaving, shuddering breaths, and her hold on him began to loosen, as though perhaps she would be able to once again find control of her own thoughts and emotions. His words wrapped around her, his arms like a security blanket that she wasn't quite ready to let go of. As she calmed and listened, she snuggled closer, like a toddler after waking from a bad dream.
Her lips still trembled and her emotions were still raw, but for the first time in days, she began to believe she might heal.
Her loss was something that even she struggled to put words to; it was something that she couldn't quite name. She just knew that there was who she had been before - bright, trusting, kind, willing to believe the best of people - and there was who she felt she was now: dark, isolated, betrayed by her own kindness. Perhaps it wasn't even the man she was so angry with. Perhaps it was herself. That her own trust in others could betray her so brutally... that was the metaphorical pill that was so hard to swallow.
How could she believe in the goodness of the world when she'd seen that such darkness existed in it?
But as she listened, her sobs began to slow to heaving, shuddering breaths, and her hold on him began to loosen, as though perhaps she would be able to once again find control of her own thoughts and emotions. His words wrapped around her, his arms like a security blanket that she wasn't quite ready to let go of. As she calmed and listened, she snuggled closer, like a toddler after waking from a bad dream.
Her lips still trembled and her emotions were still raw, but for the first time in days, she began to believe she might heal.
