The Heartwood All the debts I owe

I apologize for the long wait!

Lele looked up the moment someone addressed her. It was a handsome fellow, roughly her age and only after she had stared at him few seconds longer than it was considered polite, did she realize that she had blushed beneath her fur and there was this odd giddy feeling in the pit of her belly. Another set of emotions she recognized, but had long-forgotten, how they felt. Not unpleasant in themselves, but they were still tied to painful memories. Therefore the sincere smile that had lit up her features for a moment, disappeared, leaving in place a more collected and serious appearance. 

"Hello!" she greeted the fellow from a safe distance. "Isn't it too cold for a swim at this time of the year?" she started conversationally.