In silence she regarded him, her hero, her rock. Her chin, always so proud, quivered as tears the color of her blood pooled in her eyes. She turned away. “Welcome home mistress.”. The words felt like lead heaped upon the weight already so heavy on her chest, crushing the life out of her.
Gloved hands wiped at her eyes as she turned away. “I, I hadn’t meant to be so long.” She felt need to apologize, to seek out his understanding. A nagging voice reminded her she had no need, but Asya shoved it down. That was the voice he so hated. It was the voice of her misery, the sound of her emptiness. “It just… took longer than I expected.”
She turned back to smile at him. “I hope my absence was not felt too keenly.” A lie of course.
More tears and Asya knew it would be even harder than she thought. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I never meant to upset you.” Lowering her eyes, she gasped silently, shocked at her own confession. The weight, she now understood, mimicked his own. The pain, she saw mirrored in his eyes.