[ She sees that conflicted expression and hears the pain in his voice, and she offers him a sympathetic look. It would be foolish of her to act as if she hasn’t dreamt of Thoma in the months since his departure; so she understands, in a way. Given how he’d reacted to her bringing up her own experiences in the moments that have since passed, she decides not to say anything. She’s woken up from such dreams with such a feeling of confusion and even more so: a profound sadness for what she no longer has. It’s not the same, and she wouldn’t ever pretend that it could be the same.

But she gets it. ]

I’m sorry, Trahearne. It must be so wonderful and painful all at once…

[ Carefully, she pulls him into a hug. It’s reminiscent of the time he’d woken up from his sleep coma with a frightful nightmare; there are no nightmares this time, but many of the same sentiments remain. Regret. Grief. A longing left hanging forevermore. ]

Have you tried saying goodbye to him? In a dream?