Broken Antler Fen All I did was fail today

Pearl moved closer hesitantly, as if sensing the wrong move would send Liri fleeing like a skittish deer. Liri watched her without hostility, allowing her to get closer without complaint. Part of her longed to seek physical comfort in anyone, including Pearl, but she held back from doing so. 

Liri listened to Pearl's words but didn't dare allow herself to believe. Believing people would stay, that they would care, never ended well. It wasn't any fault of Pearl's, she seemed like a kind individual. The fault lay with Liri and her inability to trust in people. 

"I'm sorry," Liri repeated as she came back to herself, feeling embarrassed for her behavior. The pain in forehead hit her suddenly and she felt exhausted enough to sleep there in the snow. "I never meant to wake you, or disturb anyone."