Tears of the Unwanted

Celeste stood in front of the door of Tiel's room for what felt like hours, just staring at the door handle, wondering to herself where all the preparations she had thought of on her way there had gone.

Avond had arranged for her to go and break the news to his little brother as he went to say his last goodbyes to his mother's body. Erickson had turned off his phone, and no one had heard from him since.

So the last to know was Tiel, and she needed to tell him. She had rehearsed the words, practised them in her mind over and over again.

"I'm sorry, Tiel, she didn't make it..."

"Tiel, I need to tell you something... it's about your mum—no, the one who... took care of you."

And each one, along with its explanation, sounded more and more cruel.

Grief blocks people's minds from thinking; they deny, and they question it. Sometimes they hear what you're saying, but they don't listen.