separate ways

Something about seeing her father like this unsettled her in ways she knew she could never fully explain. There was introspection and then there was this and this felt different. Truthfully she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about it but for the moment she was willing to watch it play out if only for her own morbid curiosity. These days that curiosity was becoming far more voracious that it ever used to be. Her eyes searched his, a desperate search for something that might stem the inevitable  flood of emotion that would no doubt consume this precious moment between them.  The only solace she found was to bow her head to the top of his shoulder. The breath she let out was woeful, strained in some places and despondent in others, what she needed from Faelyn was muddled at best to the point that even she could not decipher her true intent in coming her today at all. 

Maybe she just needed to be reminded of who she was. 

Aethra clutched his bicep, squeezing tight like she might make encourage something profound to erupt. But then what was more profound than the bond between parent and child? After a moment, she inhaled sharply and came to rest her chin on the apex of his shoulder. I love you she whispered simply as if that would be enough to heal their multitude of wounds. Whatever you see, I see too on your face, you wear it heavy. It wasn't meant to be an insult but more constructive observation. It doesn't have to be your way, you know. Change it.