"I just wished I did more," Serena lamented.
Darius rose and crossed over to her and placed his hands on her shoulder. It hurt him that it hurt her like this. He sighed and leaned over.
He exhaled slowly and leaned in. "You have done a great deal. Did you see how she looked at you when you gave those gifts?" he said, his voice low and firm. "I know you feel sad for her, but you'll only make her sad if she sees you this way. She's young, but she's smart. She's already painfully aware of her condition."
There was no easier way he could put it, he only had his cut and dry method. He hoped that Serena would cheer up. Darius, himself, had already made mental notes of what to bring up the next time he would see Cedar. Thornridge had always been one of those places he struggled to connect with– dusty, proud, and scarred in ways he had never fully understood.
