Jorick led Katelina to their box. He tucked her inside and wrapped his arms around her. Sleep came only because he gave it to her.
When she woke the next evening, still in her coat, hat and shoes, she felt terrible. Her eyelids were swollen and puffy, her wrist ached and her throat was raw. Memories hovered at the edge of her consciousness, waiting to swoop in like birds of prey and pick her apart.
Jorick woke soon after her. He lay so still that she wouldn't have known he was awake if it hadn't been for his slowly increasing heart rate and the brush of his cool breath against her cheek. The dark silence cradled them, just as Jorick's arms held her, protecting them both from the things they'd have to face outside.
She closed her eyes, content to stay in his arms and pretend that nothin
