☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

[His eyes open just slightly as Neil speaks, a small smile touching his face as Neil laughs. He lets out his own sharp, silent breath of a laugh as he tightens his grasp around the other boy. Reassuring himself that Neil is here; real, solid, and that if he just holds onto him he can't be taken away. When he speaks, his voice is a bit shaky, all the emotion that he's been trying to hold back for the past few days cracking through. He'd tried to keep himself together, brave, reassuring; he didn't feel like he had at all.]

I was terrified. I-- I thought you might be gone, and--

[He shakes his head slightly; he won't let himself finish that sentence. Unable to tighten his single-armed hold further, he pulls his second arm up and around Neil.]