The grief weighed heavily on him, pressing down on his chest, suffocating him.
For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to take solace in her touch. But just as quickly as the thought entered his mind, he crushed it. His jaw tightened. He couldn't afford to appear that all was well with them.
Without warning, he withdrew his hand, breaking the connection.
"Let's go," he muttered, his voice devoid of emotion.
Sia blinked, caught off guard. A flicker of hurt crossed her face, but she quickly masked it. Why had he rejected her touch? She wanted to ask, but the coldness in his tone stopped her.
"Let's go," he repeated, this time more forcefully, not even sparing her a glance.
As he stepped forward, a sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over him. His body felt unusually heavy, his limbs sluggish. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady himself, but his knees faltered. His foot slipped, and for a brief, terrifying second, he nearly collapsed.
