Seven did not stop walking until the heavy wooden door of Ruri's room slammed shut behind them. Only then did his fingers unclasp from her wrist.
The moment the contact broke, Ruri collapsed forward. A ragged, terrifying sob tore from her throat as her hands flew to her face. Her shoulders violently heaved, her breath coming in shallow, frantic gasps. Tears leaked between her trembling fingers, staining the cuffs of her sleeves.
"Everything will be fine," Seven said. He backed against the door, his palm resting flat against the wood as if he could lock the entire world outside and shield her from all of it.
"My mother…" The words barely clawed their way out. Ruri clamped her palm over her mouth, trying to crush the next sob back into her chest, but her lungs betrayed her. Her knees buckled.
Seven's chest caved in. He had never seen Ruri this broken.
"Ruri…"
