[Hope bows his head at the question. How long has it been? He'd forgotten to count the days; Aerith had said she'd return within a week, but when she hadn't... the despair and confusion became too great. It was a wonder he could even function.
He was supposed to be stronger now, but the suddenness of having her ripped away had unsealed past ghosts. Hope wasn't ready for any of it. But who can ever really brace themselves against something as stark and uncompromising as death?
Willing away those morbid thoughts, Hope answers honestly,] I don't even know anymore. We're just... glad to have you back.
[His gaze lifts, shifting toward Aerith's direction, feeling his chest seize with guilt over how he'd flung the brunt of his pain and anger at her.]
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He was supposed to be stronger now, but the suddenness of having her ripped away had unsealed past ghosts. Hope wasn't ready for any of it. But who can ever really brace themselves against something as stark and uncompromising as death?
Willing away those morbid thoughts, Hope answers honestly,] I don't even know anymore. We're just... glad to have you back.
[His gaze lifts, shifting toward Aerith's direction, feeling his chest seize with guilt over how he'd flung the brunt of his pain and anger at her.]