Aetius didn't say anything when a few other drops of tears fell. He simply stood up from his seat and sat next to Cornelia. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and let her lean on him.
Aetius felt her ache in his heart. It was stabbing, twisting and blood curdling. He had already accepted her as his life time, his one and only. He was ready to sacrifice himself for her sake. He had to make that point clear today.
Cornelia saw crying as a sign of weakness, tears were for those who give up. She wasn't anywhere near giving up on her way, but she was tired. Tired of pretending that she didn't care, and his words pulled the restraints off her that said there was no way out. The whispers in her head were silent when she looked deep into his eyes.
She didn't sob, her body wasn't shaking.
