[ She does flinch. But not away. Just tenses, just jumps. The touch draws her eyes back, though, just in time for Atem to see them flood with tears.

Because, he understands.

It's why it hurt so much, when he simply lashed out—Atem's always fought to understand. Even when Riley didn't want him to, even when she withdrew.

She quickly blinks the tears away and wipes her eyes with the heel of her hands. ]

It's— fine, I was- acting crazy again, after all.

[ It's fine. If she says it's fine enough, she can believe it and stop feeling hurt. Because...she has to stop feeling hurt. It'll just make everything easier if she stops feeling hurt. It's her fault for being crazy, for letting it ruin things.

It's harder not to think like that. Even if it's...okay, now. Though it's not like before. They still consume her. She doesn't know how to make them not. ]

Anyway- um. Ryslig's— it's my home now. I have to- to treat it better, but- what we talked about before... I'm not going back. I'm- never going back. Ever.

[ She hasn't said it out loud yet. She knows most of the people who make life worth it don't agree. That one day, if they can get what they want, they'll go their separate ways. She knows happiness and stability is fleeting at best. It's temporary. It's not for her— No. No, stop.

But, still, it's impossible to fight the knowledge that here is the happiest she's ever been.

How utterly depressing is that? ]