Alpine Lake and so it begins

Her gaze avoided him, instead focusing on the path before them. "Ah," she said, more of a noise than a real word, "I mean, yeah, I guess I do." Her shoulders rolled forward in a gentle shrug. She hesitated to continue, not even sure what example to use, or if she should even use an example. Did it matter? He seemed to care. She let out a breath. 

"The last time I fell in love, it was too fast. Almost immediately. And I fucked it up," she said, her ears lowering. "It's one of many changes but... you get used to people being in your life and then they just leave. It was probably my fault, but, it was a shock." With a pause, Aria turned her head to look into the area, her pale eyes scouting it-- more by forced distraction than caution. "I wandered for weeks trying to find him-- and when I finally did I wished I hadn't. I don't think about him anymore, I readjusted, remembered that I managed before him can manage without him. And now I'm here, everything is different, but it feels normal now." She finished slowly, sucking in a breath before glancing to him sheepishly.

"I'm sorry-- I didn't mean to overshare..." she muttered.