Emberwood afypnízo

The girl could scarcely hear his words, but was comforted that he had responded to her at all. Her gentle Uncle Everett, reduced to nothing more than a heap on the ground. She did not like it and had no idea how to help this. 

The only thing that ever really work for her when she was overwhelmed was being in the arms of her brother as he hummed, an ear to his chest, rocking to the rhythm of his heartbeat. It soothed her and she wanted so badly to soothe her uncle.

So, she did if he allowed, her small body gently crawling under his head, letting it rest in the bend of her. Her own head curled to rest on his shoulder, essentially wrapping him into a sort of armless hug. She did not rock, as that would be weird in the position they were in, but she hummed, the tune soft and not based on any lullaby or song she knew. It came from her heart.

It wouldn’t be until much later, when she and her brother were alone again, that she realized her tremors had not once showed up in this moment. It was just shy of a miracle.