he came into the living room, his energy bright. "feel like trying that new place tonight?"

a subtle closing in her chest. her own quiet felt like a weight she wanted to keep.

she watched him for a moment, letting a breath settle in her belly. "i hear the excitement in your voice. my body is asking for slowness this evening."

he felt the sharp edge of his own forward motion soften. a brief, cool wash of disappointment moved through him and then cleared.

"okay," he said.

she went and sat near him. a warmth spread from her stomach into her legs.

"we could make that soup," he offered, his voice gentle now.

a slow smile reached her eyes. "yes. i would like that very much."

elian's models were maps for a known world. they detailed the correct words for consolation, the precise timing for a gesture of support.

when their friend's brother died, elian followed the protocols. food was delivered. a card was written. but their friend sat on the floor, a silent stone, and the map ended there. elian's mind cycled through the options, finding none. the silence grew. a tightness bloomed in elian's chest. they breathed into it. the tightness softened into a quiet weight.

they slid down to the floor and sat beside their friend, leaving a space between them.

after a long time, their friend's hand moved to rest on the wood floor between them. it was enough.

clara's voice thinned. "he said it's the last time. i should stay, right?"

a familiar knot tightened in my belly. 

i breathed down into it. i felt the solid ground beneath my feet.

saying yes would be a betrayal. the air between us felt dense with her hope.

my own weight settled in my hips. a quiet warmth spread through my chest.

i reached across the table, my hand finding hers.

"that sounds so painful," i said, my voice coming from that settled place. "i'm just here with you in it."

she squeezed my hand, her gaze softening.

her question hung in the air between us, unanswered. yet she was alone with it.