( the gentle touch is comforting and it sets her heartrate to lower its frantic speed, a slow breath leaves her again through her lips while giving him a faint nod. )

See? He said so himself. It's to help. It'll make me feel better. Did ya hear that? It's not gonna be like before and not like... that place in the maze. It's fine.

( so very carefully, she sits up right then drops her arm. but still, she keeps her eyes shut as she continues to ramble on to... whoever she's talking to. )

— If I was a kid, I'd be crying, Numbskull. You'd probably cry if you had to go through this.