For nearly half an hour, the room echoed with Mina's cries. It wasn't the loud wail that had erupted when Sage first woke up, but rather a steady rhythm of sobs, waves rising and falling, crashing anew whenever she thought she had calmed down.
She curled tightly against Sage's chest, as if fearing that loosening her grip even slightly would send him back into slumber, disappearing from her sight. Her small fingers clutched his shirt stubbornly while her face pressed against him, shoulders shaking intermittently as fresh sobs broke free.
Sage did nothing but hold her close and speak softly, repeating simple reassurances: he was fine, he was awake, and he wasn't going anywhere.
Boren stood nearby like a statue frozen in time; his eyes were red-rimmed with tears still clinging at the corners. He smiled foolishly every time Sage made even a hint of sarcasm, as if those jabs were proof that everything had returned to normal.
