They want to curl up inside his ribcage. His tears coax a fresh, muffled wail out of them, free- free from that place, at least. From laying their head in a bear trap and hoping that one day it would learn not to snap shut. But there's still so much work to be done. Here's another set of trials laid out in front of them, more to be done, always more, never a day to rest. They didn't manage to do it for him, to deliver him back home or somewhere better. Just somewhere else.

Another ragged wail through his shirt, heaving painful thick breaths through burbling water.