Shadowheart

[ oh.

to say that he's surprised is an understatement, and his eyes widen. ]

... is that what you think...?

[ and he'll give her hands a squeeze, gentle, mindful that his own are still bandaged and he doesn't want to bleed grossly on her ]

Shadowheart... I've remembered everything you've said to me. Every kind word and every push. I think I'm finally getting an idea of what everyone was saying to me, that I shouldn't be so quick to be apathetic to being gone...

But if I'm making any progress, you have to know that you played a large part in it. I know... I can be hard to comfort. [ as someone who processes his own emotional pain quietly or apart from others ] Even still, you've always been there for me.

I'm really grateful for... well, you.