"Sounded like you needed it."

I gave her a weak smile. Remembering her soul and imagining the impact was one thing, but seeing the actual girl in front of me, broken and straining to hold in the pain... it was different. my first instinct was to hug her... but at this point, I was legitimately up in the air about whether she'd appreciate it or see it as threatening. Instead, I handed her the chocolate as I walked inside.