The cool façade is just that—a façade. A false construct to mask the raw edge of his pain. Hiding a loss that clearly has something to do with the organization he’s hell bent on destroying.
I understand more now than I have since I first set foot in this house.
And what I understand terrifies me.
“Phoenix, I’m so sorry.”
Our eyes meet and he allows me in past the façade for the briefest flash. Just enough that I see his pain. Recognize it.
It runs deep. And in that moment, I don’t want to leave him alone with his grief. I’ve felt alone before, and it may just be the worst feeling in the world.
Instinctively, I reach out and cup his face with my hand. And to my shock, he lets me. I can feel the rough growth of stubble coming in. He doesn’t lean his face into my palm but he doesn’t cri
