She toyed with the bracer he had made for her what suddenly felt like a lifetime ago, raising her head when she felt the familiar weight of his arms around her. Shuddering through a tear-sodden breath Lily ducked her head, her eyes squeezed shut as she buried her face against his shoulder.

It took some time before she could speak again, and even when she did it was a fight to keep her voice steady.

"You're going soon?" Not just him, she knew. If the Beacon was open they would all part ways, and though part of her wanted to leap with joy over the thought of seeing her parents and her friends again - it simply couldn't.

Lily sat up with a sniffle, again reaching into whatever reservoir of strength she had to meet his eye. "I'm not sorry," she smeared the tears off her cheeks with the heel of her hand, shaking her head.

"I wish there was another way." And for a second she almost thought she would ask him to take her too, she could feel herself wobbling on the edge of it, but deep down she knew his refusal would make it so that whatever composure she had scavenged to present to him here and now would be lost. He would go, just like they all would, but she would keep from going entirely to pieces until it was done. Her shoulders shook as she drew a steadying breath, lifting a hand to his cheek.

"You won't forget me?"