She gave him the moment. This was another thing about Elena—, he gave him things without requiring explanations for why he needed them. Space when he needed space. Presence when he needed presence. This particular moment, standing in her small apartment with his hand around her wrist, just... breathing.
"I'm alright," she said after the moment had passed. "I promise. I'm right here."
"I know," he said. "I know you are."
He released her hand.
She went to pack.
She packed efficiently, her bag was full within fifteen minutes, organized in a way that suggested she'd been half-prepared to leave quickly regardless of today's specific circumstances.
She came back into the living room with the bag over her shoulder and stopped when she found him standing at the window, looking out at the street below.
"Hey," Elena said.
He turned.
She was watching him with that look, the one that meant she was reading something in his face he hadn't intended to show.
