the distance from me to where you'd be

Nothing. There was nothing and everything meant nothing anymore. Exhaustion, sorrow, and shock combined to a blessed numbness as he internally tried to protect himself. Tears fell freely down his cheek, and his ble gaze wasn’t really watching the place she disappeared. There was nothing. Nothing was worth this pain, the pain he was avoiding. His mind put him in reverse, trying desperately to forget what had just happened. Pretend like it didn’t exist, that life was fine and moving forward like it always had. He counted every day to the next time he saw Aslatiel and now.

His chest burned at the thought that consumed him. There was no more Aslatiel. He cried out again, like waves crashing against him the ocean of sorrow beat against the numbing shield that surrounded him. He couldn’t get up, he could go one, he could barely think as her words played over and over in his mind, teasing and torturing. He wished for the unfeeling to return, this was too much.

When he thought the moment where he would combust and turn to ash had come he felt tiny paws hold to his neck. Gypsy’s tiny form curled around him protectively. She couldn’t keep him from physical harm but she made certain he knew she would help him bear the emotional weight on his shoulders. She no doubt heard every word spoken, and understanding was her gift. Aslatiel was gone, but Gypsy offered her full support of him. She dried his tears and held him tight. Her rhythmic grooming allowed him an anchor against the waves that crashed against his conscious. He would have had his belly ripped open ten times over the feeling of despair that settled over him now.

A soft whine left his lips, followed by more tears, quiet sobs that wracked his body. His head was pounding, his heart was shattered, and his body was exhausted. But he had Gypsy, she held him together there in the forest. Held his sanity and his spirit together as he suffered through his worst nightmare come true.