MAGNUS
She gave me a slightly apologetic look, but it wasn't necessary because her rejection was not offensive to me. I'd made a very pricey joke, and she had every right to react the way she did.
"Is there something I can do to ease your upset?" I stammered slightly, trying not to sound too anxious lest I overwhelm her.
She shook her head quickly, then wrapped her arms around herself.
For some reason, the action broke something in me. Because it was as if she was trying to comfort herself and it looked….sad.
"Come," I said as I gently untangled her arms and took one, slowly leading her towards a sizeable protruding tree root. "Sit down."
She silently obliged, refusing to meet mine as she drew her hand out of my grasp and folded it on her lap.
