"Sometimes..." she repeated, curling her fingers around the edge of the blanket. She let out a shaky breath, and realized that she was trembling slightly. What she was trying to say went against everything that her instincts told her was right- everything about remaining strong and self-reliant, stoic and untrusting. It was unfamiliar. It was... frightening. It was even worse than I love you.

It was just four words.