"I know it's a lot," she said gently, her arms unfolding as she wrings her hands in front of her slowly, her voice is low, still paranoid of being heard. "I've been here just over a month, I think." She could have been here longer for all she knew, time was confusing when reality was fractured as theirs was. "I would say it gets easier but..." Today had proven her wrong and despite her eternal optimism, which was forced at times, she wondered if this sort of thing would happen every time she saw someone new.

The smile on his face breaks her heart. She knew that smile and yet, she didn't. She knew what it meant, she had one of her own she brought out from time to time. "I can go... Would it be better for me to go?" She'd only just gotten there and they'd done quite a song and dance to get inside but... she'd leave if it was too much for him. He'd been here a few days, if that, given what he'd said and the fact she hadn't seen (or even thought of him) until today. She'd had a lot more time to process all... of it.

Only it didn't feel that way. It felt like she'd loved and lost (again) in the span of just a few minutes.