lips move.
how?
here—only here—words must exist.
not sound.
but something between us.
she doesn't look up.
stays curled tight.
protecting herself from everything.
even me.
especially me, maybe.
I am a monster.
but look at the flowers in my arms.
look at her.
reach out slowly.
place them beside her.
one by one.
arranging them in circle around her small form.
white petals against silver light.
beauty surrounding beauty.
maybe they'll keep her safe.
maybe they'll keep the dark away.
world tilts.
sand under knees but also not.
here but not here.
fighting Wraith but also kneeling beside her in this strange silver place that smells like moonlight and flowers and salty tears of her grief.
Wraith hits me again.
feel it distantly.
like echoes.
roll with impact but part of me stays here.
watching her.
