Broken Antler Fen Did you stand or did you fall?

When she was left to spiral, Maia was usually pretty good at drawing the conclusion that everyone around her would be better off if she just weren't around right now. Like somehow she was the problem and not the same gaping hole of grief that she was feeling.

But it was impossible to argue that about the tiny paws that were now kneading into the fur of her stomach. If she weren't around, they couldn't be either. Maia stayed where she was and kept her eyes closed, trying to focus on that and only that, but it was hard. Every time she did, she just thought of how happy she'd been. How excited she was to show them to her.

And the guilt that maybe, if she hadn't been so distracted...

Maia opened her eyes and lifted her head a bit, turning to look at them. Sylvie with her white little Eljay nose working away, Hymnal tucked up further down. She looks like Terance, Maia realized with a slight intake of breath, and suddenly was threatening tears all over again. It didn't matter how much she regretted not getting more time in, she couldn't bring herself to regret them.

I'm sorry. She said softly, bringing her head back down so that she could watch them both. They couldn't hear her yet, but it wasn't entirely to them either.