separate ways

He knew what it was to deflect away from the pain, and exactly how much it cost to admit to it all. He could feel the pain in the 'I missed you' and the loneliness that being so very old, and so very alone brought with it. He knew how awful things were for them all, even just in the sense of the world as it caved in around them, much less the heaviness that Athera had put herself into. For all that she had grown into a strong, powerful woman, and for all that he saw that in her, there was a young woman who lived in his memories, the things that he saw when he closed his eyes. Both the woman that stood before him, and the girl that he remembered, needed protecting. 

Faelyn stood from his swing and quietly made his way to her, his hand resting on the small of her back to let her know that he was there. I am too... and I have been for a very long time. And it's okay to feel that way... You don't have to be so strong and resilient all of the time. It had only been recently that he'd taken to admitting that was even something afoot in his world. It's okay to regret things, to wish they were different. Yes, you've made the decisions that you've made, no matter what they are. And in hindsight, maybe they weren't the best choices. Maybe if you could go back, you'd do something different. But would you, really? You've learned, you've grown... and I am so proud of you. Even if I am scared for you at the same time. I will always be proud of you.