The touch was comfort, though he felt like he was sensing Baba through a lake of water. She was there, somewhere, he knew. As he started to open his eyes, a sudden flood washed over him, all of Lief's - the other Eric's - memories invading him all at once.
Eric gritted his teeth, trying to keep himself quiet, but the scream built with the pain and issued through his lips without his permission.
Though it passed quickly in reality, it felt like years.
When it did finally subside, Eric opened his eyes fully, turning on his back and stared at the ceiling. He knew there was no more other. That he was alone with his wife in the room, but not. Lief was still there with them. But inside.
He was Eric and Lief. Lief and Eric. Whole again, more than himself. And very happy to discover that it was not as if there were two minds in one body, just a lot of memories that had not been his before.
The room smelled of burning and he turned his head to look for her, reaching for her. "Baba?"