[There he is. There he is. His hands find her face, and hers wrap around his; a hold on each other, through the pitch. Darkness wrings out every ounce of their beating hearts and then some; there’s always more to grieve. Aubrey brings their foreheads together, her own pounding from the crying jag that just won’t end, and Armin speaks like he’s been here before, might be here forever.]

And I’m with you.

[He’s close; he’s been close, he’s stayed close. Armin’s voice falters; Aubrey can’t blame herself when he’s laid his sins on a petal-stained table. Is it a victory that he’s finally cracking? God, but he thinks they’ll lose them again—]

We’ll stay together…

[Of course they’ll be here. They’ll carry this black for the rest of their days.]