Kneeling beside Brahmin, Sati's shoulders suddenly began to tremble... she pressed her forehead harder against the floor, trying desperately to hold herself together, but the first sob escaped anyway... and once it did, everything else followed.
"Thank you..." she choked out as tears spilled freely onto the wood. "Thank you... thank you..."
She kept repeating those same two words as if nothing else was enough... Brahmin remained silent beside her, but Levi could see a difference. The old man's shoulders had finally lowered, and his breathing was lighter.
Even the permanent tension etched into his face faded for a second... It was as if some invisible weight he had carried for decades had finally been lifted from his back.
For the first time since Levi had met him, Brahmin looked younger, matching his real age.
Brahmin slowly raised his head, his eyes slightly reddened... but his tears fully contained.
