Sleepy Fox Hollow Slippin' through dreamland like a tourist

She knew her answer was confusing, and so she didn't automatically hold it against him the he said nothing in return. She was already looking away again as an awkward silence settled between them; things grew so silent that she thought he might have decided she was not good company and left. His answer finally came as she turned her head to check if he was still there. He didn't know. Why ask then, she wondered. Was it just to have something to say or because she looked like she had missed a few too many meals, and now he was just trying to be polite? If that was the case, his manners were wasted on her; she didn't care about things like that. She stared at him blankly for a few moments for no reason other than she had no idea what to say to that. 

But his next words made concern flicker across her face—just a flash before it was gone. She still watched him, drawing in a deep breath and releasing it slowly. Well, you're welcome to sit here with me and try to pretend you are okay, she offered, turning her head away again. It's what I was trying to do, she continued, seemingly to the water in front of her. She didn't ask why he wasn't okay because she assumed he wouldn't tell her. She also wasn't sure she could take on anyone else's baggage right now. Between Mahler and his missing son and Sia and his murdered mate, she was emotionally raw, and that was on top of everything that had already been going wrong in her own life. She would, however, not mind his company so long as he didn't expect her to stop sulking on his behalf.