That is the difficulty. Even the oldest, most wizened of people struggle with this same question of how to continue. The answer is different each time.

[ He pauses in trying to explain to soothe instead, a gentle shushing as he tries to catch the rhythm of her breaths with the stroke of his hand against her hair. If he does, he'll slow that rhythm, trying to get her to do the same as a subtle direction. ]

But you will. It may seem hard now, but you will.