"How are you feeling now?"
Florian was curled up on Heinz's lap, his body trembling as the hiccups overtook him. His eyes were swollen, cheeks streaked with tears that just wouldn't stop falling. He had been crying for over an hour now—loud at first, then quietly, brokenly, like something inside him had finally cracked open.
The waterworks just wouldn't stop.
It wasn't like him at all. But every time he remembered Luluwing—remembered that small, fluttering body he'd come to love—and all the things he'd gone through in this world, the grief welled up again.
Heinz didn't speak much. He simply held him close, arms steady, one hand gently rubbing soothing circles on Florian's back, as if this were routine. As if he was used to Florian collapsing like this.
"I-I..." Florian croaked, voice hoarse and raw. "I...feel fine. I'm..."
