Lissa sat alone in the dark.
After all the excitement of the war was over, it felt like everthing was crushing down on her.
She bit into the pillow hard, trying to muffle her sobs.
He was gone. He was really gone.
Robin, her amazing husband. Gone.
Nothing could dull the ache in her heart.
She pretended she was alright, when she was around the others. She smiled like she had hope. Like Robin was still there. Like he was smiling with her.
But everything got worse at night.
When the eyes of pity were off her and she was alone, that's when she let it all out.
That's when she mourned him.
She couldn't sleep. Not without him beside her. Not without his soft breathing, his warm touch.
She shivered, hugging one of his favorite tomes. Tears stained the paper. If he was there, he would've been upset. It was a very rare copy.
But he wasn't there. He was gone.
He had left her.
She knew he did it for the good of the future, but right then, she couldn't feel thankful. She couldn't celebrate the fell dragon's death when it meant his as well.
She only felt alone and cold. And broken.
She understood they had won the war and saved the world, but not hers. Her world had shattered the moment he vanished. Her life had ended with his.
And they were both so young, too young.
Too young to die.
Too young to be widowed.
It was all wrong. She wished desperately for him to be there. To come and hold her until her tears ran dry. To tell her everything was alright.
But he was gone…
A knock at the door made her jump, her thoughts scattering.
The door creaked open, and with it a ray of light shot through the darkness.
Chrom stepped in without even asking.
She tried to mop up her tears, before he saw what a mess she was.
But he was beside her in seconds. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her so tight she couldn't move.
"Lissa… I am so, so sorry…"
His voice sounded choked and the knot in her throat thickened. She knew this was hurting him too, ripping him apart. He understood how she felt.
Maybe that's why she didn't hold back as she wept in his arms. She just let it out. The pain, the loneliness, the emptiness.
He rocked her gently, patting her hair.
Her cries were loud and ugly, but she didn't care. She couldn't. Nothing really mattered anymore.
"I m-miss him so much," she sobbed, her throat raw.
"Shhhhhhh…" Her brother consoled.
"It hurts!"
"I know," Chrom held her at arms length. "But that's the price we have to pay."
She sniffed.
He continued, "Those are the bonds pulling him back. You loved him so much. Your bond was strong. It ties you two together. Like a string. Something like that cannot be broken by death."
"What does that mean?" She mumbled.
"Don't you see? Your love is what will save him. He can't be gone for long, not with a bond like yours."
Chrom was always going on about bonds. She wasn't really sure what it all meant, but she wanted to believe him so badly, it was painful.
"It's not over. You have to keep fighting, for him," He whispered. "Because it's going to be alright."
She had no choice. She had to believe him. Or else the pain would destroy her.
She dried her eyes. "Okay."
Robin, I'll see you soon…right?