He wanted so many things. He didn't think he could say them all, from start to finish, all the wealth of things that he didn't even know how to articulate sometimes. There were things he wanted that Essek could do nothing about, too. Frumpkin. The book of letters to his parents. Their friends. These were things that there was nothing any of them could do and he had to live with the misery of it all.

But for right now? For right now, he had Essek here with him. Wanting to be here with him. Perhaps it was just because he was hurt and he needed to rest and Essek wanted to make sure he did, but Caleb didn't think it was that.

"I have what I can have," he said softly. There were questions he wanted answers to, but not now. It didn't have to be now. He ran his knuckles slowly over the shape of Essek's ear, the length and the curve and then along his jaw. "If there is more than this, I will be grateful for that too."