She returns to her plate, her head bowed, and picks up her fork.
My sweet Leni, I don't know how to bring her back. But it's my sole purpose in life to figure it out now, and I will not stop until she's free.
I watch her eat in silence, the only sound the scrape of her fork against the plate.
When she finally sets her fork down, she doesn't look at me.
"Thank you."
I lean forward slightly. "You don't have to thank me."
She doesn't respond.
I stand and reach for her plate, but she flinches, pulling back slightly.
"I'm just taking the plate, that's all."
She nods, her gaze fixed on the table, and I take the plate to the sink.
When I turn back, she's still sitting at the table, her shoulders hunched.
She looks so small and fragile.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
Her jaw tightens, and she looks away.
"I know."
But the way she says it tells me she doesn't believe it.
I know I need to help her first. But how?
How do I help someone who won't even look at me?
"Do you want to go back to the room?"
She shakes her head, but she doesn't elaborate.
"Do you want to sit by the fire?"
Another shake.
"Do you want me to leave you alone?"
This time, she pauses.
Then, finally, she looks at me.
Her eyes are red-rimmed. "I don't know what I want."
I nod.
"That's okay. You don't have to know."
She looks away again, her gaze dropping to her hands.
The silence stretches, heavy and suffocating, and I don't know what to say.