Chapter 51

“I have to go, Siana.” He rose and offered her the once again tepid mug. “I told my mother that I would attend on her before the memorial.”

Siana stood up and offered her arms to Naerin. “Would you like another hug? I can’t do much else, but I’m pretty good at hugs.”

Naerin hesitated, face crumpling like he wanted to cry again and nodded. “You are very good at making me feel like I am not alone, and I thank you sincerely for that.” He stepped into the circle of her arms and laid his forehead on her shoulder. “Thank you for not judging my weakness.”

“It’s not weakness to be sad over something like this.” Siana said quietly, rubbing his back. “You get to be sad, Naerin. You get to feel however you need to feel to get through this. How many times have I fallen apart on you?”

“I do not know.” He said from her shoulder.

Siana didn’t shrug, she didn’t want him to feel like he had to let go before he was ready. “It was a rhetorical question, you don’t have to know the answer to it.”