::

If people had been close enough to her, if she had dropped her walls for them, they’d be able to see the subtle hints.

The way her hands clenched at her sides, her jaw locked lest her tongue betray her.

Her eyes forcibly dried no matter how badly the dam threatened to break.

How strong she had to force herself to be in front of everyone.

But, there were so few who knew the truth. So few who she had let past her heavily guarded walls and into her inner circle. Very few who could chip away at the wall and she could somewhat be herself around.

B’raemha, her tiny apprentice. A girl too sweet for her own good, Machi had said many times.

CJ, her fellow Warrior. Someone who could share her experiences and knew exactly what she’d been through. He’d been there too for the majority.

And…

Hien.

The man who had happened to take her heart for his own.