Kaelen had barely taken a step out of the out of the spot he stood while seeing Lila when he felt a sudden force collide with him. He stumbled slightly but remained steady, his instincts flaring for a moment before he realized it was Lila. Her sobs echoed softly as she clung to him, her body trembling against his.
'How did she get to me so fast and without me noticing?' Kaelen thought with a shocked expression on his face.
"I missed you... I missed you so much!" But Lila's voice broke his train of thoughts as it was interwined with sobs, her words muffled by Kaelen's chest. She buried her face in his shoulder, her tears dampening the fabric of his uniform.
Kaelen, though caught off guard, didn't flinch. He gently placed his hand on her back, offering silent comfort. He had known Lila for so long—her sudden outburst wasn't completely unexpected, especially given the weight of what she'd been enduring.
