It seemed like an eternity before Freya’s sobs finally stopped. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her face felt puffy and wet. She felt utterly miserable and weak all over. And deep inside as well.
She pushed herself up onto her knees and wiped away what tears she could with both her hands. It felt as though she had just bathed in them.
After a moment, she looked up at Azrael, who was smiling kindly at her. She quickly reached in and gave her a tight hug, which they held for a few seconds.
“Thank you,” Freya said as she let go. “I really needed the rescue. I felt… I felt like I was trapped in an endless pit, down at the bottom. I-I tried to climb out at first, but everything kept crumbling under my fingers.”
Freya looked at her hands, her palms, and curled them slightly. As if to check they still worked.