Dawnlark Plains bone canticle

fascinating. him? lestan wearied beneath her praise, closing his eyes because he did not want the gentle admiration in elodie's voice to touch him. "y-you f-followed me, y-yes. a-and i w-wish you w-wouldn't ... f-follow me more."
and yet he did! 
a shuddering breath racked his flank; he turned more deeply into himself, trying only to concentrate on each strike of rain against him.
each reminder that he was alive hurt his mind.
only for blossom; only for the talisman that must keep her existence encapsulated, and his.
sleep did not come, only a crushing sorrow that slipped his mind from body for a time.