Leilani.
Merely saying it made me feel as though my throat was burning. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes but for some reason, I couldn't even bring them to fall.
Not right now.
Not with this bombshell that had just landed right in front of me.
And but when my mind was buzzing with questions— a thousand and one questions that my lips couldn't bring itself to form.
When I raised my eyes to meet his gaze, it was stern. Unwavering. But nothing about it felt cold. If anything, I could describe it as the warmest, most sincere expression I have seen on anyone's face in so long.
My heart dropped one more time.
I struggled to speak but my voice was lost, and after trying and failing so many times, I finally mustered enough courage to ask;
"What do you mean, Uncle Theon?"
That question felt like a slap to his face and I know this because of the way he recoiled into himself, squeezed his eyes together and pressed his hand into his chest as if it hurt.
