fection. As the first child in a family of ten, he learned early that being needed mattered more than being seen. There were mouths to feed

grew too crowded, too loud, he was sent away to boarding school. There, emotions were distractions and vulnerability was weakness. He lea

r tired, what she needed before she asked. He remembered the way she preferred her tea, the songs she hummed absentminded

not have to. Planning for the future so she could feel secure in the present. He thoug

ss of the night, he sensed a

hat he had missed. He noticed her smiles had grown carefully, her laughter quieter. He saw th

equate,touch felt awkward,emotion felt exposed. He feared that if he opened the door to his

hours so she would never worry,he chose action over affection, believing o

n, a quiet f

e had learned it, was n

nd what she longed for. He only knew that losing her even em

e not that Lily would change, but that someho