256 The hands wrapped around his throat

Phoenix continued to caress his hands, "Zane, if suffering is a tapestry, every thread is significant, just because someone else's pain is louder or looks greater does not silence the whispers of your own struggles. Your pain is real and is valid and it matters." If you are hurting, accept it. Only Zane knows how much he is hurting and how hurt it has hurt for so long.

He could try to guess but even with all his skills, he would not get an accurate estimate of the pain. He could only give him the permission that he was looking for, the permission to accept his pain.

Zane did not speak for a while. He always knew what to say.

So he is allowed? He is allowed to be so angry at her, to hate her? Could he really?

"I don't want to be dramatic."

"Zane, you could not be dramatic even if you tried love. That was not part of Heaven's package for you."

His attempt to crack a joke made Zane squeeze his hand.