[ the thing is, as soon as he says it, as soon as he puts his hand to his head, hope knows what it is he doesn't want to be thinking about and the tiniest of smiles appears on her face. ]

I don't want to keep it from you. [ her hands drop again. ] Not like. Like, I don't want to share the nitty gritty, but I also don't want to have to lie. I don't want to have to worry if you're going to decapitate someone by ripping their entire spine out with their head.

[ she looks at him, her mouth set in a pout. ]

I want you to trust me.