"I mean, yeah, no wonder," Chrissy says, gesturing idly toward him with one hand. "You were being attacked by evil bats, or something." Just saying so, thinking about the bandaged spots and newly healed wounds she saw when he lifted his shirt, makes her feel sort of queasy with guilt, stomach turning, but she bites back the impulse to apologize again. She could too easily talk herself in circles, and having pulled herself together somewhat, would really rather avoid another bout of crying if she can help it.

"It just kinda helps, you know," she adds with a self-conscious shrug. "Hearing it from... a friend, not a stranger."