"I am familiar with that," Watts said. "The hurt."

After all, Steven had been very patient for the last month and a half as Watts worked to regain his equilibrium following a painful reminder of his own.

"You had a little glimpse of what it might be like, and then it- they- were gone again," Watts said quietly.

Perhaps Raphael was capable of reading narrative, because at that moment he slipped through the open door and leapt up on to the bed, padding over towards Steven and Watts.