Eavesdropping & Empathy (2)

"Leave me," Kaelix said softly, his voice heavy with emotion.

Drystan gave a slight bow, his eyes flickering with concern as he glanced toward Eirik and Sadiki by the lake. Without a word, Drystan turned and walked off into the shadows, leaving Kaelix standing alone, wrestling with the whirlwind of emotions churning inside him.

Kaelix watched Eirik and Sadiki in silence, his chest tightening with each passing second. The sight of his future husband, broken and vulnerable, had caught him off guard.

How long had Eirik been carrying this pain? Kaelix had always assumed that Eirik was simply fulfilling his duty willingly, without a second thought.

But now, seeing Eirik's tears and hearing his quiet sobs, Kaelix realized how wrong he had been.

Eirik had been suffering. And Kaelix had done nothing but add to that suffering.