His fists pounded against your chest, not hard enough to hurt, not really. But each blow felt heavier than the last, soaked in a rage that wasn’t meant for you and a sorrow that had nowhere else to go.

“You idiot!” Rolan shouted, voice cracking as his tears streamed freely. “You should’ve ran! You should’ve let me die, damn it!”

You didn’t flinch. You just stood there, letting him let it out. Letting him scream and cry and call you every foolish thing in the world.

His hands trembled as they finally stilled against you, curled tightly in the fabric of your clothes. His forehead dropped against your shoulder, and you felt him shudder.

“Why would you do that?” he whispered. “Why would you still… after everything I did to you…”