Pulling her up closer to me, I rested my forehead against Aurora's. I could feel her rapid breathing against my lips, but slightly calmer than they were just a minute before. "Your okay. Your safe. Nothing will hurt you."
I repeated the words over and over, a mantra of sorts, helping to calm her. And me.
                          
Eventually her breathing was back to normal, the crease between her eyebrows now smooth as she gazed up to me. I ran my fingers through those gorgeous locks I adored so much, hoping to give her any sort of relief. Her eyes finally met mine, gazing up in what looked like awe.
                          
"There's my girl," I tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. "Am I okay to carry you upstairs?" A small nod was all I received in return. Tucking her legs over one arm, and cradling her back with the other, I tucked Aurora tightly into my chest, trying to block out whatever horrors had caused such a reaction. Taking the long route around the house to avoid the crowd, we entered through the front door and moved straight up the stairs. Aurora was now worryingly quiet as she lay wordlessly in my arms.
                          
Moving into my own room, I lay Aurora down gently onto the bed and sat down by her side.
                          
"Aurora," I caught her attention, my hand rubbing gentle circles on her leg. "What happened sweetheart?"
                          
She seemed to hesistate as she opened her mouth to speak. "I—" her voice cracked, as her eyes welled again.
                          
"It's okay, take your time. It's just you and me." Aurora nodded, taking a deep, composing breath. 
                          
"I got a call... and it was from the lead detective on my case. He and I, we're—" I watched as she swallowed harshly. "He took care of me, when there was no left. Anyway, he called to tell that the sentencing, i-it got moved up."
                          
I didn't try to sadness that overcame my face. Life really never seemed to give my girl a break. Her jaw clenched as tried to fight back the tears that were mere moments from falling.
                          
"When?" Was all I could manage.
                          
"Six weeks from now." The tears fell freely, unashamedly down her rosey little cheeks. My sigh was heavy as I raised my eyes to the ceiling, trying to control my own emotions. I wanted to protect her from every cruel and terrible thing in this world. But that would be impossible. It didn't however take away from the fact that Aurora had suffered more pain in the last four years than most did in their entire lives.
                          
"Asher I don't think I can do this again," Her little voice trembled as she spoke. "It's taken me years to get to this point. To be normal again. It wasn't supposed to be until a year from now. Once I'd graduated. Once I'd had time to start living. But he always finds away to take it away from me. Its going to make the news, and then everyone will find out. And I know if I see his face again, this soon, I'll
fall apart." 
                          
There was no words to be said in the moment, nothing I could say to change her mind when she had made it up. For now she didn't to let it all out, so I simply lifted her legs to staddle my own, allowing her to then wrap them around my waist. My arms wrapped around her own, as hers clung tightly to my neck. Our bodies flush against other, but the act was comforting. Supportive. And I wanted to hold on and never let go.
                          
••
                          
I wasn't sure how long we sat there in each other's embrace. The chatter outside had turned silent, suggesting it was late into the night. Aurora has slipped out of my lap to change into a pair of my sweatpants and one of my large tshirts, both of which drowned her, before settling back into her place in my
lap silently. Maybe we had been lying there as longer we thought. I closed my eyes as I held her against my chest, listening to how her breathing softened and evened out to a normal rhythm.