When Ella Howard saw all eyes on her, she felt somewhat embarrassed. Upon looking at Lyra Smith, she stuttered out her explanation: "I was startled when I first woke up and saw you with your messy hair, sitting there."
Lyra paused, trying to recall what she might have done to scare Ella.
She remembered unable to sleep and fumbling with her hair. Ella, already edgy from the day's events, probably had another fright when she woke up and saw Lyra in disarray on the next bed.
Lyra apologized guiltily, "It's my fault for scaring you, I'm sorry. I'll go back to sleep now."
With that, she immediately lay back down.
Ella's assistant left her own folding bed to come and comfort Ella.
Ella asked, "Seven, can you sleep with me tonight?"
Her assistant was astonished.
This was the first time Ella had ever asked her to share a bed with her.
This would never happen on a usual day.
