She stands a little ways apart, watching with dancing eyes and an irrepressible smile, right hand tucked into the hollow of her shoulder, holding onto the backpack strap.

"Please," she says, holding up her left hand, unable to quit smiling and feeling no desire whatsoever to try. "Don't let me interrupt."

God, he looks – he looks good. Healthy. Some color in his face. She notices, belatedly, the empty space at his left side, but her eyes don't linger on it. In fact, she's having a hard time looking away from his face long enough to notice anything else at all.

Her smile widens into a grin. "Hi."