I don't know how to do this

To have him back here, handling the heavy things, helping around her den... it was like nothing had changed. It was like nothing had changed and everything had changed all at once, and Halo couldn't help but feel those thoughts as they weighed heavily on her mind. In her chest. Her heart was so heavy with it. Why did she feel this way? You know why. Right. She knows why. Still, Halo won't put those thoughts into words. She can't. She won't. Without really looking at her best friend, the girl set a cup of tea down in front of him. Quickly, she turned to begin rummaging through the basket of vegetables, beginning to sort them. Had to keep her hands busy.

Halo tried to chase the emotion from her voice when she spoke next. "You never told me why you left in the first place," the words are quiet. It's not a judgement, more of a question. Why did her chest ache at the thought of him leaving again? Her best friend the world over, and he'd be leaving her again. The thought of it hurt more than she'd say. She wouldn't hurt Mortis in the process, she couldn't. Still, it was hard to push down the sadness, the lump in her throat.

Getting by, he says. Her ears wilt a bit, though she kept her focus on the dandelions she was sorting. Feeling adequately calm from the previous moment's emotion, the healer lays them carefully on the rough-hewn table, piles of greens, piles of roots and stems, piles of blossoms. The ones to be processed somewhere in the middle, working away at the heap of them. "What's wrong?" Maybe Halo was prying, but she can't help him feel better if he doesn't talk about it. Tone gentle, lavender gaze finally settling softly on his face for just a moment. Trying to get a read on his feelings, searching for them.

"Halo"