AARYN
Elreth's head snapped up and she took a step back from him at the same time Aaryn turned to find his mother standing on the stairs, only halfway down, but able to see them both. Her hair was flat and dull, and her eyes were silvered with tears. He hadn't noticed so many lines on her face before, her face that was now pinched, but she stared at him—at them—with a sad smile and her chin trembled. She was dressed in a sagging, stretched tunic that barely covered her thighs. He hadn't seen her without pants or a long skirt on for years. When had she gotten so skinny?
"Mom?" he said surprised. "I was… I was going to bring you some soup."
"I remember when your father looked at me like that," she whispered, her eyes on Elreth, and Aaryn felt it like a punch to the gut.
"Don't think about him right now, Mom. I don't think it's a good idea."
