Redtail Rise stoneward

She exhaled when he leaned toward her, and into her touch. Relief and guilt both flooded through her- but she kept the latter as a dark secret, even from herself. She allowed him the moment- it was charitable to do so, she told herself. She was returning a kindness, though she knew the riling of her heartbeat was indicative of something much deeper. She paused, for a beat, so they could stand shoulder to shoulder, knowing the same broken heartbeat. 

She inhaled, eventually, and moved forward again. Spending any more time dwelling on feelings would have unearthed something that should have remained entombed- or at least partially buried. She would do her best to match her stride to his, though- as though in solidarity, though his legs were much longer.