oothing hair still damps from tears, she opened the door t

ing. He spoke first, words weak and fraught as a newbo

a glass fragment might flay skin at any moment. Two ghos

ll of it - pushing you away when you needed me most, for not really listening before

blind to its depth. Please, tell me how I can supp

and gasps, a silent vow formed - that darkness dwelling within her would no longer mean facing it alone. Light's first glimmers shone from cracks in shadows being lift

d to talk, he said gently. Too much has built up, too many miscommun

ng readily but met now with care, not carelessness. Regret lined his words. I know I've hurt

ive hope. A beginning, not an end - if they listened with open minds and hearts unguarded, cracks might pave the first stones of a bridge across divides within and between them. Josephine

one. Her father's wrath, insidious violations cutting soul itself with surgical force.

laws of fear. His free hand cupped her cheek, thumbed tears with care one shows rarest treasu

tears cleansed layers of grime masking humanity in each other's eyes. Bonds rebuilt from ruin proved far stronger than those forged blind, and in sharing darkness found first glints of light together.,

an what either of us needed. So I pulled away and shut down, thin

ght beatings until I showed only stone. Over time, I forgot how to b

e other unintentionally. But scars could heal when wounds were cleaned and bandaged together, not left to fester alone in shadowy corners of the mind. With care and understanding, even shattered spirits mended over ti

igence could become once more - emerged from shadows' shroud. In sharing burdens b

ts the other offered kindly without judgment. Laughter broke through as happy recollect

eaking through, restored her ability to envision wisps of a future beyond survival - one of nourishment, joy, forgiveness and unconditional care for fragilities within one another.

nce truncated in shadow. Though bones ached and psyche's scars persis

ty's blade. Hope stirred where barrenness thrived too long, that understanding comprised th

replaced despair clutching too fiercely in the loneliest hours. Dawn rays shone warmer by facing nightmares'terrors with sunlight of honesty instead of da