Difficult. That was a word for it. It certainly felt accurate in describing the tightness in my chest, the way my pulse pounded, the way everything in my body was slightly off knowing that he was around. He didn't have a quiet presence; instead, having him by my side changed everything. The air I breathed, the ground under my feet.

As much as it had hit me square in the chest when he left, I breathed easier these days.

"Just like how your encounter was difficult, right?" I asked, raising a brow lightly. "There's no need to worry about me, though. He's gone, I know he could come back, and that's as settled as that matter will ever get. But I wanted to warn you. A lot can happen around here."