Soh was, both fortunately and unfortunately, an open book. On the one hand, it meant that she was easy to read, as Harper was finding. On the other hand, it meant that she was easy to ready, which Soh did not always appreciate. Just now, for example, she would rather have been able to take a deep breath, explain her discomfort and injuries in a mature, adult way, and go about her business. But that wasn't her way. For all that she was 18, she was still a child, particularly in light of Harper's years and experience.
Her eyes filled once more at his praise. She couldn't remember the last time someone had told her they were proud of her - if ever - and for it to come from her best friend's father made it mean all the more. Her parents had died when she was so young, and Auden had tried their best, but they had been gruff at the best of times. Hearing it now made something deep inside her come undone, and she struggled to hold back tears as years of emotion tumbled to the forefront of her mind.
"I don't - I don't know," she choked out. And it was the truth - for all she knew, the man who had attacked her may figure out who she was, where she worked, where she lived - after all, her name was on the gods-cursed sign! And even if she never saw the man again, she still didn't feel safe. But she didn't know where to start with her story, so she just looked at her and Harper's intertwined hands miserably, wanting to tell him everything but afraid that if she started, she might begin crying again and this time never stop.
Her eyes filled once more at his praise. She couldn't remember the last time someone had told her they were proud of her - if ever - and for it to come from her best friend's father made it mean all the more. Her parents had died when she was so young, and Auden had tried their best, but they had been gruff at the best of times. Hearing it now made something deep inside her come undone, and she struggled to hold back tears as years of emotion tumbled to the forefront of her mind.
"I don't - I don't know," she choked out. And it was the truth - for all she knew, the man who had attacked her may figure out who she was, where she worked, where she lived - after all, her name was on the gods-cursed sign! And even if she never saw the man again, she still didn't feel safe. But she didn't know where to start with her story, so she just looked at her and Harper's intertwined hands miserably, wanting to tell him everything but afraid that if she started, she might begin crying again and this time never stop.
