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It was hard to separate herself froan and the other left off
She was so tired It would be so easy to just let go and drift away to a much more coently, a soft lullaby that soothed her soul
But each tiive in, she was pulled back by an unseen force A will er than her own in its current state
It was uncoravitated toward it because she sensed that it here she needed to be Not this other dark, quiet place
And then, in the dark, a gentle presence A sliver of sunshine War some of the bone-deep cold that had invaded her body
Grace
She stirred, hearing her nae of how to She waited, wanting to hear her naain, but silence settled around her and the cold crept back in
No! She wanted to weep For just a entleness She’d felt love and known it was for her, ai for her
Grace, goddaive up I have no idea if you can hear ht, but don’t you dare leave me
She frowned because that was so pulled in two directions and yet they both beckoned fro…For her
Grace I know you’re out there and that you need ht
Shea
Hearing her sister’s voice after so long devastated Grace Crumbled her heart to pieces Stripped her down to her very soul Tears et on her cheeks Warainst cold skin
Can you hear her, Grace? Is Shea talking to you? You’re crying, baby I know you can hear at least one of us Fight this We want you back Fight, Grace Don’t you dare give up You’re stronger than this There is nothing that can beat you down Do you hearcan defeat you except your oill
Rio
Grace, please talk tofor both of us Letone now Letshe had into reaching out to her sister Fear paralyzed her because if she couldn’t reconnect, if she couldn’t respond, it would devastate her
Grace! I hear you I hear you, Grace Barely You sound so weak, but you’ll get stronger Talk to o Tell me what you need
Didn’t want you to see e she sent back to her sister Her best friend in the whole world The one person she loved and who loved her unconditionally
Oh, Grace Don’t you kno much I love you? Howthe other that we’ve forgotten that we’re best e’re strong Together Side by side Noeach other out Do you hear ainst the world
Grace ser sister’s words Warh heraway the shadows that stubbornly clung, unwilling to relinquish their hold just yet
I’m just so tired, Shea So cold I’ve never felt this weak I don’t want to give up, but I don’t know if I have the strength left to fight
And then she felt another presence War It surrounded her froth she so desperately needed
I’m here We’re here I can feel hih you, and he’s strong, Grace He’s strong enough for both of you Lean on him Lean on us
Rio
She sent out the one word, releasing it froht, chased by the proht here, baby I won’t let you go Take what you need You’ve been alone for so long Never leaning on anyone else This tih to ask for help
She soaked up every bit of co it to ward off the dark She grabbed hold of the hope and the love so readily offered by the two people who loved her
Warmth spread to every part of her body It was an electric current arcing through everywiillness, lad you’re here
She sent out thean irrevocable pathway between the three of theo
This tier Louder in her o, honey
I’m here, Grace I’m always here Alith you, Shea said fiercely
And then so away Absorbed by Shea, who had the ability to take people’s pain and emotions and absorb them into her own body Just as she’d done for Nathan when he’d been tortured Just as she’d done so many times since This hy she hadn’t wanted Shea to know Hadn’t wanted her to see the depths of Grace’s pain and despair
No! Shea, stop it! Don’t you dare take this It’s enough that you’re here Don’t do this Do you hear h
Tears of frustration burned her eyes This wasn’t what she wanted
Let her help you, Grace
Rio’s co He had a tight hold on her and he wasn’t letting go, almost as if he had a part of her captive
I don’t want her to ever feel this, Grace choked out
She has people to support her She has Nathan there She isn’t alone And now neither are you Don’t be so stubborn Lean on us Allow us in Allow us to take it for you until you’re strong enough to bear it yourself
More warh the connection to Shea Grace felt herself enfolded by her sister, held tight and rocked back and forth as if she were a child in need of co her back, afraid to let go for fear the connection would be broken Shea pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and smoothed away the hair from her face
Sleep now, Grace Rest so your body can heal, so that when you awake, you’ll be stronger and yourself once more