I could feel the faint edges of my next threshold it was an almost imperceptible barrier waiting to shatter at any moment.
It was like standing before a door that I could finally see but didn't have the keys for yet to open.
Hours passed.
When I opened my eyes again, the courtyard was quiet except for the distant chirping of night insects.
Almost everyone else had drifted into light sleep or quiet meditation.
Orin sat opposite me, eyes open, watching the night sky through the open window.
"You're not sleeping?" I asked, kind of stating the obvious.
He shook his head. "Can't. Too much noise in here." He tapped his chest.
"Still thinking about what happened?"
He hesitated, then nodded.
"You don't have to rush to be fine," I said softly.
"None of us expect that."
He smiled faintly, tiredly.
"Funny. I used to be the one saying things like that to you guys."
"Then it's just my turn now."
Silence lingered between us, the comfortable kind.