She's quiet as she works, a forced smile on her face that doesn't reach her eyes. When he looks to her, she doesn't look back. Her gaze remains fixed on the rest of him, a redness building in expressive hazel eyes as she tries to keep breathing through the tightening of her chest.

"It can wait," she murmurs, voice unsteady. "You've--" Her jaw tenses briefly until she's able to right herself. "There other things to think on. Forget this for a time."

She wants to lie again. She wants to tell him it's fine and that nothing is truly wrong. It's... better for Cinder to have gone home, to have a chance to see those things she knew were ahead of her through.

The truth doesn't stop her heart from breaking, though.