[She's not the type to hide. She doesn't know a thing about herself yet and she knows that much. But the temptation is so strong right now, with Alex here after what seems like years even though she doesn't remember seeing him before. So she gives in to it, pressing her face into the fabric of his hoodie and letting out a long, shuddering sigh.]
[Somehow it helps, not having to look at the world or be strong for a second. There's a brief flash of white walls, white clothing, white door, but she pushes it away; this isn't like that. She doesn't need to build a prison here. They're both okay. And, Alex tells her, she didn't do anything wrong.]
[Is that really true?]
It couldn't beat us, [she repeats, quick burst of tears already slowing as she matches her breathing to the faint thump of his heartbeat.] It couldn't. [We died, but we're here. It beat us, but it lost. How?] It's not here?
[This is a question, not a statement. It's an effort to keep her shoulders from tensing up. She trusts Alex, she does, but this, this scares her.]
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[Somehow it helps, not having to look at the world or be strong for a second. There's a brief flash of white walls, white clothing, white door, but she pushes it away; this isn't like that. She doesn't need to build a prison here. They're both okay. And, Alex tells her, she didn't do anything wrong.]
[Is that really true?]
It couldn't beat us, [she repeats, quick burst of tears already slowing as she matches her breathing to the faint thump of his heartbeat.] It couldn't. [We died, but we're here. It beat us, but it lost. How?] It's not here?
[This is a question, not a statement. It's an effort to keep her shoulders from tensing up. She trusts Alex, she does, but this, this scares her.]