Oak Tree Bend say my name like it's a bad word [S]

Serach had not been sure how Aponi would react to his statement - any sort of guess felt instinctively wrong because he had never been in a situation like this before. His heart hammered in his chest, and his breathing was slow as he held it in anticipation. Part of him was waiting for her to lash out and mock him for being so weak for still loving her. Had their roles in the situation been reversed, he doubted they would still be talking. But she did no such thing, instead offering him a quiet thanks in acknowledgement of his renewed commitment to continue to care for her and their children. He was grateful for that - he didn't know what he would do if she had been ungrateful or decided to leave anyway.

The look in her eyes was not lost on him, nor the tentative step she took towards him. His gaze met hers, but he could not bring himself to reach out for her and close the distance between them. The wound on his heart was still too fresh and hurt more than any other injury he'd ever sustained. Averting his eyes and ears flattening against his head, he hesitated for just a moment before abruptly turning and walking away. He needed to find a place to rest and let his heart ache without her there.

Fade out.