Being held by him is too rare an ocurrence these days. It has her overwhelmed with emotion again, the tears starting anew as she presses her head against his shoulder.

"It's--" For a moment, it almost all bubbles to the surface. It's almost easy to tell him everything that she's been going through these past months. But it's only for a moment, before she remembers the boy with blue eyes that's relying on her to stay strong and she all but chokes on the words.

"--I-I can't--"

She shakes her head slightly as her attempted explanation devolves into a soft weeping.

"I'm-- so tired. A-and it hurts, Papa," comes her barely comprehensible murmur between sobs.