Stone Circle after the thaw

and the conversation turned to Steady again. For a brief, weak moment, she allowed the barriers in her mind to break and allowed herself to think of the death. the strong protector, the father that had taken her in, raised her, taught her and loved her as she had loved him. for a moment, she wilted, but swiftly ramped up the walls in her mind and straightened. such was the depth of her sorrow that she found the best way to deal with it was to block it from her mind completely; if she did not think of Steady, it would hurt less. it was not completely successful, but she had honed the art of putting up walls, in her mind, at least.  

half-conscience, her lips formed the words that she wished she could say: "my dad".  Not knowing that lip-reading was even a possibility, and accepting her silence of language, now, she turned to Sunny, seeing what he might offer in turn.