Redhawk Caldera Symphony No. 5 in bass minor.

Amalia thanked her for staying. Towhee wouldn’t go anywhere, as long as she could help it. But she could feel herself fraying apart at the seams, as if Killdeer had unraveled the very fabric of her existence when he’d gone. She didn’t know if she would have any choice, if her grandson didn’t turn up again soon.

There wasn’t really anything more to say or do in this moment other than lean into Mal’s embrace. Towhee closed her eyes again. This time, whenever she felt her thoughts circling the drain, she focused on the various points of contact with her granddaughter-in-law. It worked well enough to let her drop off into a drowse, though the respite would likely be brief; it was only a matter of time before a nightmare jerked her awake again.

I feel like it makes sense to archive or fade this here, if you’re good with that. :)