Redhawk Caldera Symphony No. 5 in bass minor.

She felt so damn tired, yet sleep eluded her. Towhee closed her eyes, shutting out the world, but reopened them quickly when her thoughts began to swirl. She started a little bit when she saw Amalia seat herself a few feet away. Words tumbled from her lips before the elder could recover.

She could relate to Amalia’s every emotion, of course. Towhee had lost her grandson this time, though she’d been through the loss of her mate, the father of her children. Her empathy for the woman’s plight further drained her reserves of energy.

I wish I had something helpful to say. I don’t. But I’m here to listen.

She didn’t make the obvious joke. Towhee just let out a soul-weary sigh and met Mal’s eye. She could see the pain in that green gaze and resisted the urge to close her own eyes again. She didn’t know if she could cope with the feedback loop, the utter pain fest. But she would be here for Amalia, even if and until it actually killed her.