NOAH.
Maria had fallen asleep sometime between her quiet trembling and the slow rhythm of my hand brushing through her hair.
I hadn't even realized the exact moment it happened.
One minute she had been staring blankly ahead, her eyes distant and clouded with shock, and the next her breathing had softened against my chest. Her body, tense for so long, finally relaxed as exhaustion claimed her.
Now she slept in my arms.
Her head rested lightly against my shoulder, her hair spilling across my arm as my hand continued to move slowly over it, brushing the strands away from her face.
I didn't stop.
Even though I knew she was asleep, even though she couldn't feel the reassurance I was trying to give her.
I just kept doing it.
Because watching her like this made something tighten inside my chest.
She had almost died.
"Goooshh!" I muttered loudly.
I really don't know if I would ever survive without her.
