[ She watches his expression with a soft smile, half wondering at the direction of his thoughts. It's another reason she hadn't wanted to voice her own doubts earlier. He seems to feel responsibility so strongly, and she knows there are people at home that he loves. If she'd made him second-guess his own decision... that would have been even worse. ]

She's the same age as you. I wonder if that means I'll be that wise in three more years? I really hope it doesn't take a full eighteen. [ Adding in her years in the basement, that is. ] I'm glad, though. That you want to move forward, too.

[ She'd been more than half-afraid that he'd head back to accept whatever terrible situation was awaiting him there. Maybe she was projecting, that time. ]