Garrot didn't realize how much he needed the silence, the calm. It isn't the sort of thing he allows himself to bask in lately. He's been pushing so hard since he got out of the hospital, and now, when he can finally breathe if only because he's waiting...

He needs to do this more often. But eventually, Gyre breaks the silence, and part of the bugbear wants to get mad. But the breathing is helping so much, and...

"It does." He sighs, bringing a hand to gently wrap around the back of Gyre's head, as if to keep them together. "I... Saying it once will be bad enough." Because then he has to acknowledge it, share it with others, declare it as true. He'd rather this all be a bad dream.

"I'm sorry."