The Choice (Version CEDRUS, PT.2)

Part Two: Comfort In Pairs

Amalia

Before I had realized it, I had fallen asleep sometime after I had sat down to rest my feet. When my eyes open, I see Yugo gently standing, a soft figure in the darkening room.  Pausing, he watches over Cedar for a few moments before turning and noticing me. The bright and sparkling cocoa eyes I had come to love seemed so despondent and lifeless now... it was almost as if I was looking a stranger in the eyes. Silently, he steps towards me and leans against the wall next to where I was sitting. He doesn't look me in the eyes, or even my way. His eyes glisten with unshed tears, and his gaze remains fixated on the ceiling. 

 Taking a deep breath, I stand, though uncertainly. "Yugo?" Doing my best to keep my voice low as to not wake Cedar, I figured now was as good a time as any to try and help him. At first, he doesn't react, and I open my mouth to call to him again, afraid he hadn't heard me. But, after a moment's pause, he slowly turns to me, and a tear falls from his eye. Then another, and another; before he was just standing there, tears pouring down his cheeks; doing nothing but staring at me with a heartbroken expression.

 I gently cup his cheeks with my hands and wipe away some of the tears. "It'll be okay. Things will get better, no matter how hopeless or impossible things seem now. I'm here for you, and I always will be. And... Sheila, you know damn well she'd get upset at you for moping around," Feeling myself start to tear up, I try to force a small smile. "Sheila was a reserved yet fierce soul, and I have the feeling that this won't be the last time we'll see her." He doesn't say anything, but he takes shaky deep breath and closes his eyes, leaning into my touch. "It feels like the world is ending, but... I'm here, and I'm not going to let that happen to you." Without opening his eyes, he replies, "You promise?" His voice sounds hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken since she.... "I promise," I say firmly, putting aside the thought. 

Opening his eyes, he gently shakes my hands away and moves closer, resting his hands on my back and his head on my shoulder. I rub his back soothingly as his shoulders begin to shake, doing my best to comfort him.  As he cried, he made almost no sound, yet his grief felt like it had been through sirens. 

Apologies for not posting a chapter sooner. But, in the end, better late then never no?