The world was the solid warmth of his chest, the rhythm of his steady gait, the scent of safety and storm that was Kai. I did not open my eyes. I could not. To open them was to face the new reality, the terrifying shift that had cracked my world open. So I kept them shut, a child hiding from the dark, and let him carry me. The forest sounds changed around us. The birds began their morning songs, a cheerful chorus oblivious to the night’s violence. The light behind my eyelids grew from grey to gold. He moved with unwavering purpose, his breathing even, his arms a fortress. He never stumbled. He never hesitated. He was a force of nature, and for now, I was content to be swept along in his current.
After a time, he slowed. The air grew cool and still. The bird song became muffled, then dista
