[ he held her, giving her strength when she needed it, supporting her back as she nearly bent in two. It was sudden and heavy and everything Hei could wish.
He memorized it, each expression and muffled cry.
He minded not the nails scoring his back; it would be a scar to remember her by. He kept his words to himself, knowing she didn't want them. But he mouthed them all the same, against her skin, against the corner of her mouth. Stay. ]