There was silence on the other end, then a breath. "Yeah… yeah, it is."
"I'm sure she has her reasons," Zaria added delicately.
"Of course," David agreed quickly. "She's brilliant. Powerful. But sometimes she forgets that being strong doesn't mean pushing everyone away."
Zaria let a gentle hum slip through. "Maybe she's just protecting herself."
"That's what I used to think," David said, voice lowered. "But lately… I'm not so sure who she's protecting herself from anymore."
Zaria said nothing, but the moment stretched long enough to imply shared understanding. Or perhaps, silent sympathy.
David's voice dropped further, like a whisper meant just for her. "I'm glad I got to talk to you. I think you see more than most people around her. Maybe even more than she realizes."
Zaria allowed herself a small exhale. "Maybe."
