Their laughter still lingered faintly as they traded playful remarks, Aeron smirking at the bland potato and Starfania daring him to finish it in one bite. For a moment, it almost felt like the heaviness of the day had lifted. Then, without warning, Aeron pushed back his chair and stood. His tray clattered faintly, his face shadowed by something unspoken. Starfania blinked, startled, before quickly rising to follow. His stride was brisk, legs moving as if on instinct, and she caught fragments of words muttered under his breath that slipped away before she could grasp them.
" Hey," she called softly, her tone steady though her chest tightened. " What's wrong?"
He froze, mid-step, shoulders rigid. For a long heartbeat he avoided her gaze, eyes flickering towards the ground, windows, anywhere but her. Finally, he drew in a breath, voice low. " It's just... a lot on my mind lately. I didn't want to burden you with it. "
Starfania's hand found his arm, warm and steady. " You know you can talk to me about anything, right? I'm here for you. Always."
His lips curved into a small, fragile smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. " I know, Starfania. It's just...there's something I've been dealing with, and I haven't figured out how to handle it. "
His brow furrowed, worried about softening her features. " What is it? Maybe I can help? "
Aeron raked a hand through his hair, his gesture weary. " It's...complicated. "
Silence pressed in, thick. The surrounding air seemed to hum with the weight of words unsaid. Starfania stayed close, not pushing, not stepping too far, just waiting. His head lowered inch by inch as if the burden itself dragged him down. Then, with a shuddering breath, his composure cracked. His voice tore through the corridor like thunder, raw and unrestrained: " This place fills me with nothing but hatred!"
His next words shock with trembling honesty. " I feel like I'm trapped here, Starfania. Every day, protecting my little sister from her. It was supposed to get better, but it didn't. I hate it. I hate how this place makes us feel—like we'll never breathe again. "
Starfania's chest ached with recognition. She knew that suffocating weight. She knew the sting of being cornered by duty and grief. His pain echoed her own in ways she rarely admitted, and though she couldn't fix it for him, she offered the one thing she could: presence. Steady, patient, she stood as the shoulder he could lean on, silent but unyielding against the storm.
Starfania listened intently, every word Aeron spoke sinking into her chest like stones. The love he carried for Violet was undeniable, but it weighed on him like chains. She could hear it in his tone, see it in his eyes—the way duty and despair warred inside him.
" Aeron, I can't imagine how tough this is for you, " she whispered, voice brimming with empathy. " You're doing an incredible job taking care of Violet. It's clear how much you love her. But... it's important to take care of yourself too. "
His lips pressed together, conflicted. " I know Starry. But it's hard. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. I want to do right by Violet, but I don't want to lose my dreams either. "
Her hand settled on his arm, grounding him. " It's a hard balance. But you don't have to carry it alone. Have you tried talking to your father again? Maybe there's a way to find a middle ground. "