You're more fragile than you realize

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, filling the cottage with a warm glow that danced across the walls. I sat across from Alyndra, nursing a cup of tea and pretending not to notice the way her eyes kept darting toward me, filled with unspoken questions.

She was trying to gather the courage to speak, her lips parting every so often before pressing into a thin line. 

I knew what she wanted to ask. Of course, I did. The weight of it had been hanging in the air since we'd escaped the forest. The memory of that man his presence, his words wasn't something that could easily be brushed aside. 

Finally, she broke the silence. "Thalindra," she said hesitantly, her voice soft but insistent. 

I raised a brow, pretending to be mildly surprised. "Yes?" 

Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, twisting the fabric as if it would grant her the strength to continue. "That man in the forest. Who was he? And why did he say you were… using me?"