TRISH.

No answer came for the longest of moments. A lot of different sharp replies rang in her head, though. Don’t patronize me. What would you know? How do you know what it’s like?

None of them managed to make it down the path from her brain to her tongue. They stayed stagnant, bouncing around until they mixed together in her head to unintelligible noise. “I’m fine,” she finally told him in a voice that left nothing to be questioned. “I picked my own path this time. No matter what happens, I’ll follow it.”

                      _{———DESPITE HER QUICK ASSURANCE, the man knew better than to return the stone he lifted when there was something living beneath. like a festering wound, he tried not to pick at the skin. it was a hard day they’d had, most resigning to taking care of themselves before looking after each other. still, trish was young ; she hadn’t asked for this life.}  

      _{❝ you forget that we all walk this path together. ❞}