Jerking curtains shut sharply, I sat heavily on the bed. Clutching at my chest as I tried to breath.

After all this, I didn't want to deal with that person.

Uriel had no right to show up now.

I reached and drew the blanket up around me and curled into it. Falling over on my side as I shook, ribs aching.

I’m not sure when I felt the weight of today just hit. But a deep seated ache settled throughout my body. I felt wetness dribble down my cheek before my breathing wavered.

A sob tearing from me and I buried into my blanket cocoon.

I felt a soft hand on my hair and a gentle brush of fingers on my back. I didn’t even hear the door open when a soft "Lark?" called from above me.

Small hands attempted to lift me before heat erupted against my neck.

"Ah fucking shit," a deep hiss sounded from behind me before the two talked quickly about something between the two of them.

Next thing I noticed was a soft warmth encompassing me and the world taking on a soft dark look before I was lifted onto the bed. "There," Ezekiel stated once I was settled and peeked out at the duo, Ezekiel on one side and Loria was still getting situated.

Loria opened her arms and I was gently set into her hold to start petting my hair. "Lark, are you okay?" Loria asked softly.

"’M fine. ‘verything just sorts of a hit at once," I explained softly as I tried to bury myself deeper in the fabric.

"Okay, well, you don’t have to deal with this alone,” she whispered softly, looking over at Ezekiel. “Right Zeke?”

“Right,” he replied and patted my knee and I looked over at him curiously.

“Thanks Zeke,” I whispered through my thick throat.

After a few more minutes of cuddling, they finally slipped out. “Are you hungry? I can bring up dinner,” Loria offered and I shook my head.

“Thank you, but I’m not hungry right now,” I answered and she nodded, running her fingers through my hair one last time before they left my room.

For the moment, I had forgotten what that was that had set off my panic attack in the first place until a faint light emanated from the back yard, lighting the edges of the windows inside the room. Groaning softly, I tried to shut it out by hiding myself in the blanket further.

A soft ringing started to sound in my head, trying to push me to get out of bed and come speak to him. That was the last thing I wanted to do, but it was slowly getting louder and louder.

Having enough, I pushed myself up from the bed, I opened the blinds to see that the figure had moved from the pond to be in the middle of the yard. I could see that he was looking up at my window and I swallowed, closing them again.

I drew the blanket tighter around my shoulders before sitting on the bed again. I was anxious. I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want to face this right now. Why couldn’t he leave?

The ringing subsided and I looked to the windows and the glow had left.

Did he leave? Was he leaving me be? I hoped so and let out a heavy sigh and I flopped back against the bed. I was tired, but my mind wouldn’t settle. Was ignoring Uriel really the best choice? I hoped so. I really hoped so.