Chéri shrugged again. They weren’t going to give up easily. “Resilience isn’t a bad thing. Most people like it, actually. And you seemed pretty good a listening. No, I don’t see that as a risk.”

Darius apologised. Chéri shook their head. “You can try. It would do you good to feel like you are trying.” Stated Chéri with confidence. They kept stroking Darius’s hair, indulging a little longer, applying slightly more pressure, guessing the man was not used to being touched but longed for this sort of contact. “Or you could go to her and offer comfort. She needs that and she might not have the strength to ask. She didn’t look like she did.” Chéri offered their own perspective because they knew another opinion would be valued.