Those Three Tests

“Thank goodness you’re alright.” His voice broke as the words left him, trembling with relief. Tears streamed down his face, yet he was oblivious to the weight of his emotions, to the way they might imprint on her forever.

She reached out gently, her fingers threading through his hair, a soothing gesture meant to anchor him in this moment. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, though she wasn’t sure what she was apologizing for. Was it for what he had been through? For the suffering that still clung to him like a shadow?

He shook his head, inhaling sharply as if trying to steady himself. “You don’t have to be sorry. It was just a test.” His voice was strained, and he forced himself to straighten, wiping at his tear-streaked face. “What matters is that you’re safe and sound.” She realized how worried he was for her.

That even as he spoke the words, they felt hollow. He wasn’t alright. Not yet.