There was fear.
She wasn't ashamed of it. She wasn't able to lie about it without it being boldfaced and easily deducted from her expression be it a half-hearted smile or a grimace that slipped past her defenses. Was she right? Was she simply afraid? Perhaps so. Perhaps she was right. The fear was deeply rooted, set within her spirit and her bones that made breathing difficult when she was alone in the dark.Â
It was the kind of fear that you can find no words for. It doesn't have logic or even a sound emotion as a base. It merely sits there, when stirred it provides the body a fresh batch of tremors and anxieties that are best saved for privacy then to overtake her in the daylight on the street.
The catalyst was so small, too. A compliment. That's all it took! A compliment about Elonwea and her eyes, the infant busily sucking on the pom-pom of her stuffed moogle without a care before the acquaintance took their leave. There was nothing, at first, for pride at how beautiful her daughter was growing. How bright eyed and strong she became each day. Those eyes unlike her own, a little darker and more like-
Moments later came the fear.
With the fear came the tightening of her chest.
A sudden shortness of breath, sweat forming and gliding down her temples. Pupils dilating and hands feeling clammy like she was experiencing a chill. Each odd symptom overtook her until she was drowning in it while sitting on that bench without a word. The company she kept had reached over for her knee to give it a squeeze, seeking to snap her from it.
"Lili?" The feminine voice besides her piped up with hesitance, concern.
Ellie followed shortly afterwards with a croon. Lili had actually started to hold onto her daughter tightly enough that it caused some alarm in the infant. Loosening her hold and gazing down at the cherubic cheeks and tufts of blonde, the seasoned mother managed a weak smile. Babbling, the infant grabbed a fistful of her hair while Lili bowed her head so more strands would slip past her shoulders and into her daughter's reach.
She had to be strong. She had to keep her head high. This was going to end well. They weren't going to lose her and she wasn't going to lose them.Â
Ellie squealed with delight, stuffing some of her mother's ends into her mouth like a game. Despite knowing she'd need to wash her hair again today, a breathless chuckle arouse and kissing were reigned on a face of innocence.Â
The arm of her friend wrapped around her shoulders and squeezed, saying nothing and Lili offering no explanation in return. They sat like that on the bench of Mor Dhona, listening to the passing adventurers with a infant's cooing calming them both.
Her trek to Coerthas was soon. Her family couldn't afford to suffer any more losses this year.
She wasn't ashamed of it. She wasn't able to lie about it without it being boldfaced and easily deducted from her expression be it a half-hearted smile or a grimace that slipped past her defenses. Was she right? Was she simply afraid? Perhaps so. Perhaps she was right. The fear was deeply rooted, set within her spirit and her bones that made breathing difficult when she was alone in the dark.Â
It was the kind of fear that you can find no words for. It doesn't have logic or even a sound emotion as a base. It merely sits there, when stirred it provides the body a fresh batch of tremors and anxieties that are best saved for privacy then to overtake her in the daylight on the street.
The catalyst was so small, too. A compliment. That's all it took! A compliment about Elonwea and her eyes, the infant busily sucking on the pom-pom of her stuffed moogle without a care before the acquaintance took their leave. There was nothing, at first, for pride at how beautiful her daughter was growing. How bright eyed and strong she became each day. Those eyes unlike her own, a little darker and more like-
Moments later came the fear.
With the fear came the tightening of her chest.
A sudden shortness of breath, sweat forming and gliding down her temples. Pupils dilating and hands feeling clammy like she was experiencing a chill. Each odd symptom overtook her until she was drowning in it while sitting on that bench without a word. The company she kept had reached over for her knee to give it a squeeze, seeking to snap her from it.
"Lili?" The feminine voice besides her piped up with hesitance, concern.
Ellie followed shortly afterwards with a croon. Lili had actually started to hold onto her daughter tightly enough that it caused some alarm in the infant. Loosening her hold and gazing down at the cherubic cheeks and tufts of blonde, the seasoned mother managed a weak smile. Babbling, the infant grabbed a fistful of her hair while Lili bowed her head so more strands would slip past her shoulders and into her daughter's reach.
She had to be strong. She had to keep her head high. This was going to end well. They weren't going to lose her and she wasn't going to lose them.Â
Ellie squealed with delight, stuffing some of her mother's ends into her mouth like a game. Despite knowing she'd need to wash her hair again today, a breathless chuckle arouse and kissing were reigned on a face of innocence.Â
The arm of her friend wrapped around her shoulders and squeezed, saying nothing and Lili offering no explanation in return. They sat like that on the bench of Mor Dhona, listening to the passing adventurers with a infant's cooing calming them both.
Her trek to Coerthas was soon. Her family couldn't afford to suffer any more losses this year.