Rhea simply shook her head. "It was just a nightmare." Her voice cracked, tears in her eyes.
It was a half-truth. It wasn't just a nightmare; it was a memory that wasn't hers, a pain that now felt like a part of her.
Zeenare's face was washed with a frown, a piercing pain aching in his heart. The anger in him was a storm, but seeing her so broken, it was all he could do to contain it.
He reached for her, his touch surprisingly gentle as he cupped her cheeks, wiping the tears with his thumb. Then he pulled her into a hug, his grip tight around her, shielding her from the outside world.
And for the first time, Rhea genuinely received his hug, pressing herself in, fresh sobs trailing down her face. She felt the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart. It wasn't the tender Zeenare of her dream, but it was him, here and now. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
*
